Sink faucets are now easy to turn on and off for a woman whose hands are crippled by arthritis, thanks to a group of South Whidbey volunteers.

Hearts & Hammers volunteers removed and replaced the hard-to-turn knobs with one-touch levers in the bathroom sinks of Reif Snyder’s home in Langley.

“My fingers were locking up from the arthritis,” said Snyder, who is 85.

Snyder said it was difficult to operate the faucets because she didn’t have enough strength in her hands. Not anymore.

“It has been absolutely wonderful,” Snyder said.

Snyder was one of the 2006 recipients of the Hearts & Hammers annual workday.

This year’s 14th annual workday is Saturday May 5, when volunteers gather to help their neighbors with home repairs and maintenance projects.

The homeowners who get help are typically elderly, single parents, people with disabilities or people facing financial hardship.

Want to help? The deadline to register as a volunteer for the workday is Saturday, March 31.

Neighbors lending a helping hand with much needed home repairs is what Hearts & Hammers is all about. This year the group hopes to tackle 50 homes, and approximately 450 volunteers will help their neighbors with a multitude of one-day projects. There is no charge to the homeowners, and repair costs are covered by grants and donations.

Snyder said the volunteers did a marvelous job.

“They were so efficient and kind,” she said. “I love the feeling of community spirit.”

“I never thought I would need them, but

I am glad they were there,” Snyder said.

Snyder said she hopes to volunteer for this year’s workday.

Hearts & Hammers, is a nonprofit organization that was established at Langley Methodist Church in 1993 to help community members who were physically or financially unable to fix up their homes themselves.

Volunteers do whatever repairs and renovations are possible within the scope of a one-day work party, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, painting, plastering, heavy cleaning, roofing, yard cleanup and trash removal.

For board member and volunteer Charlene Arnold of Freeland, the day is a way of giving back to the community.

Arnold has been involved almost since the beginning in 1994.

“It’s just a way of reaching out and helping others in my community,” she said.

“I have hauled trash and done garden projects. I love doing it,” she said.

This year, organizers say there is a greater need than in years’ past and that volunteers of different skill levels are needed. People are also needed to volunteer as team captains to lead projects at the different homes on this year’s list.

Teams are needed to work at three additional sites, too; Woodchucks, Island Recycle Center and in the high school kitchen.

Volunteers will meet at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, May 5 at South Whidbey High School for breakfast, then receive their team’s assignments from their house captains.

Volunteer forms can be found online at www.heartsandhammers.com.

Forms can also be picked up at the Langley Post Office, libraries, nurseries, building supply businesses and at

The Clyde Theater.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com.