Orcas Hive worker bees launched inaugural community work party

||| FROM MEGAN NEIL for ORCAS HIVE |||

Saturday, July 31st Orcas Hive rallied their worker bees for their inaugural community work party. The overcast day was a perfect setting for a day outdoors giving back to two community organizations in need. The Orcas Center and the Healing Arts Center benefitted from the day. Both organizations were in need of sprucing up and ticking items off their to-do lists after a long Covid season. Orcas Hive provided volunteers for the event, sending our younger generations of islanders to both organizations with tools, skills, know-how, and enthusiasm. A five hour work day resulted in decks stained, windows caulked, weeds pulled, hedges trimmed, and leaves raked. Even some of our future hive members, aged 5-8 helped out with the tasks at hand. 

Dimitri Stankevich, Director of the Orcas Center, was present to offer up compost runs, good will and cold refreshments. “It was great to have the HIVE at the Orcas Center for a day of service.  The grounds at Orcas Center have been maintained by volunteers from the beginning.  Pierette Guimond, Phil Burbo and Jim Schaffer-Bauck have largely taken this task on for the last decade.  It was amazing to have the next generation take some interest in helping the community by giving back to a local non-profit.  We can only hope that some of them might be interested in joining our regulars.”

Over at the Healing Arts Center, Christopher Evans had a long list of overdue to-do’s. Hive showed up and got it done. “The Hive is a good name for it, as the volunteers seemed to swarm into the Healing Arts Center like a colony of productive worker bees. They buzzed around our grounds and did whatever was asked of them. Between our members and the volunteers, we were able to get a substantial amount of weeding, composting, mulching, painting, and staining done for our much beloved building and grounds. No job was too big or too small for these busy bees.They had an amazingly good attitude and strong work ethic. Collectively, we really got a lot done that we wouldn’t have otherwise. It was a true example of synergy.”

After a hard day’s work, the volunteers headed to Island Hoppin’ Brewery where they were treated to cold drinks, thanks to Becca, Nate and the brewery team. They say “it takes a village” and Saturday was a perfect example of how a village can come together to make a difference and help out. Everyone came out ahead that day. Orcas Hive was created in 2020 by a small group of individuals empowered by the Orcas Island Community Foundation. Hive’s mission is to provide a place to connect and collaborate with Orcas Island’s next generation of community-minded visionaries and leaders. Hive aims to connect the younger generations of locals with one another and with organizations and philanthropic opportunities that fit their interests, focusing on finding fun and inclusive ways to make philanthropy accessible for all. There is currently a fund held at the Orcas Island Community Foundation, actively taking donations to help provide philanthropic grantmaking opportunities and networking events for our younger islanders. Check Hive out online at www.oicf.us/hive if you want to learn more.