As the summer that never was sloshes toward fall (please let there be three days of sunshine for the Anacortes Jazz Festival), the community is about to get back into its regular routine. Special events and fundraisers dot the calendar in coming months as we regroup after vacations and refocus on our community.

We see more signs that the sputtering economy is taking a toll on families, and expect things to continue on a down note for some time. That means we’ll be asked more often with more urgency to step up as a community to help those who need a hand — and help the community institutions that help others.

Telling was the big turnout Saturday at the Caring For Kids Ready to Learn Fair put on by the Anacortes-San Juan Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross.

This wonderful, longtime event provides free school supplies, clothing and haircuts for kids to help them start the school year on a good note.

Volunteers served about twice as many families as they did a year ago — many who came for the first time after facing a sudden hardship — and they gave out $3,520 in shoe vouchers, about $1,000 more than last year.

There’s another great chance to help families coming up Thursday evening — the Anacortes High School fall sport athletes’ food drive. Fall sport athletes and parents will canvass Anacortes neighborhoods for food and/or paper products, laundry soap or hygiene donations.

Want to help? Put your donation on your porch for the athletes to collect or bring your donations to the high school parking lots from 6-8 p.m.

These donations will be given to the Salvation Army Food Bank. Cash donations are also welcome. (If you don’t get your donation picked up or you have questions, call Syd Olausen at 293-6803.)

The food drive, which is repeated at the start of each high school sports season, is another wonderful tradition that has taken hold here. It’s about athletes giving back — something we all must continue to do.

Times are hard, but we’ve been up to the challenge before.