Ed Jenkins is ready to meet hard times head-on, if he can get some help.

The community activist from Clinton wants islanders to circle the wagons and pull together in the economic gloom by forming a Whidbey Volunteer Corps.

“I see a real problem coming for the country in general and here on Whidbey,” Jenkins said. “I believe we can move through these times with little hardship if everyone helps and we all share the load.”

Government employees swamped because of cutbacks? Jenkins and friends would help with the paperwork.

Tax money running low? Jenkins and friends would be there with muffins for a bake sale.

Small business pushed to the edge? Jenkins and friends would offer tips based on years of experience.

Single mother’s home or car need repairs? Jenkins and friends would show up with a wrench, fan belt and the voices of experience.

Jenkins envisions an umbrella volunteer organization that would deploy assistance where it’s needed to preserve the island’s unique way of life.

“It’s all simple stuff,” Jenkins said. “It’s not rocket science, just common sense.”

Jenkins would utilize the island’s wealth of retiree expertise in a four-pronged attack.

He would marshal a cadre of volunteers to fill in at county and local government offices hit by layoffs and reduced hours. Unpaid volunteers could do the routine jobs such as filing and paper shuffling, Jenkins said, leaving paid staff time to serve the public.

He sees this concept working equally well in schools, parks and recreation departments and other public entities.

Jenkins said he was involved in a similar project in California, “and it worked beautifully. It created a great partnership. When times improved, a lot of volunteers stayed on.”

Jenkins proposes a coordinated fundraising effort to supplement county programs hit by budget cuts and staff reductions. He foresees a series of events such as bake sales, flea markets, concerts and others, all coordinated by the Whidbey Volunteer Corps.

He also would mobilize the island’s considerable population of retired business people to work with local businesses to help them avoid the abyss.

Volunteers would conduct free seminars in marketing, employee education and financial strategies.

There could be a mentoring program in which volunteers with expertise would work one-on-one with business owners, and local support groups in which business owners could share their ups and downs with others who have been there and done that.

And he envisions a micro-lending fund to help islanders who want to start a home business.

“We’re talking about very small changes,” Jenkins said. “Sometimes small business owners can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Meanwhile, he would help people who need a little help with home or car repair but don’t have the money to hire a tradesperson. Volunteers would conduct free sessions on car and home maintenance, and would do the work themselves if necessary.

A subsidized discount program at local hardware stores, and a tool-lending program might also be set up, Jenkins said.

“People sometimes live in very marginal conditions, their cars aren’t safe, their homes aren’t safe. A lot of time, it’s just a lack of knowledge,” he said.

“We have a lot of groups doing pieces of this to varying degrees,” Jenkins said of his proposals, “but nobody’s pulling all our resources together.”

“That’s really what we need,” he continued. “A clearing house of manpower to fill in the blanks.”

Jenkins, 64, came to Clinton about five years ago after years of visiting the island in his motor home.

He grew up in southern California and had a number of careers in advertising, marketing, promotion and business ownership. He retired 17 years ago.

“I have a background in a lot of different things, and I felt a real calling to give some of that back when I retired,” he said.

Jenkins has been no wallflower on South Whidbey. He has campaigned hard for islander rights when it comes to proposed changes in the ferry service, especially against the suggestion of a reservation system.

And last year he worked vigorously for local control of the island’s electric power system, a high-profile battle that ended with him being pushed out of one of the leadership roles, and the eventual overwhelming defeat of the measure at the polls.

But he remains convinced that a local public utility district is the way to go on the island, and is already working on ways to get the measure back on the ballot in a couple of years.

“We know what went wrong last time,” Jenkins said. “We need to put together an education program. It’s never too early to start.”

As for a Whidbey Volunteer Corps, Jenkins said he would be happy to coordinate an effort to get the ball rolling.

“It’ll be a lot of work, but I believe Whidbey is up to the job,” he said. “I came here for a lifestyle. If we stay fractionalized, our quality of life could be impacted.”

“I’m hoping the economy shakes people up,” Jenkins continued. “The whole thing hinges on whether people are willing to step up and step out.”

“Once we’re out of the woods with this economy, we’ll have a better community,” he added.

Jenkins can be reached at 320-9438 or 341-2831, or by visiting his Web site at www.localpower.com.