WWU Center for Humanitarian Engagement Opens Tool Library

By: Autumn Dunzweiler

UCC communication coordinator

Walla Walla University Center for Humanitarian Engagement staff, along with community leaders, gathered for a ribbon-cutting event for the Walla Walla Tool Library in College Place, Washington. The event, held on February 28, 2023, announced the opening of the tool library to the community.

The ribbon cutting was attended by Norma L. Hernández, mayor of College Place; John McVay, president of WWU; David Lopez, CHE executive director; Patty Marsh, director of Upper Columbia Conference Adventist Community Services; Megan Lersbak, CHE tool library project specialist; and CHE employees.

“We are so excited to be offering this resource to empower our community,” Lopez shared. “There are many individuals that have a need for tools but can’t afford them.”

The tools in the tool library have been used by WWU for service days, an annual event held for last 29 years to help the surrounding communities. However, many of the tools go unused for the majority of the year.

“When Patty Marsh mentioned that the ACS disaster response trailer had not been used in several years, I let her know that we had a purpose,” explained Lopez.

The tool library, in partnership with ACS, is a trailer with hundreds of tools that have been organized by Lersbak, a WWU senior business/entrepreneurship major and CHE’s project specialist. Lersbak was excited to get involved with this project to help empowers the community to live more sustainably.

“The tool library gives people the tools they need to succeed,” Lerbak shared. “Many individuals have the skill to do home repairs or community projects but might not have the resources or funds to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive tools.”

Marsh was exited that the trailer was able to be used again.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Marsh. “The trailer is an asset that we did not have a consistent use for. When David asked about the trailer, it was an honor to know that we are using it to its fullest.”

Not only is this tool library for the community, but in the event of an emergency the trailer is fully prepared to be deployed to provide tools and resources for volunteers working with ACS. For more information about the Walla Walla tool library, visit, heynn.com.