Islander Hilary Emmer is the latest recipient of the 2020 Broad Shoulders, Big Heart Award, given by the board of Vashon HouseHold annually, whose members cited her many contributions to the community as the reason for choosing her.

The honor is given in memory of the organization’s founder, Jean Bosch, who died in 2017.

Vashon HouseHold president Carolyn Wilber said that Emmer embodies the spirit of the award, adding that there is not one organization helping those in true need that Emmer has not been a part of or is not currently involved with.

“When Hilary notices an unmet need with no structure to address it, she either creates the necessary structure or just fills the need,” Wilber wrote in an email.

Emmer is currently working to provide dental care for low-income seniors on the island courtesy of a grant from the members of Granny’s Attic. She is also working with the Department of Local Services to find resources that could provide for a needs assessment social worker to help immobile seniors. In an interview with The Beachcomber, she said it was important that they are taken care of.

“I think there are services on this island that they don’t know about and we need to bring to them,” she said.

Emmer added that the award came as a surprise to her but that she was grateful to have received it.

“It was really thoughtful; I was totally shocked,” she said, adding that her personal friendship with Bosch deepens the meaning of the award for her. “I never think about awards at all, but having one in Jean’s honor is an honor to me.”