SPOKANE, Wash. – At the Riverview Retirement Community, Lanny Burrill is known for his dedication to spreading love through his woodworking – he clocks in daily for what would otherwise be a full-time job.
He penned himself the ‘Crazy Heart Guy.’
He band saws, belts sands, and wheel buffs for 6 to 8 hours a day; Sunday’s he pulls a half-shift to make time for church. He’s made 4,000 hearts so far this year just to give them all away, mostly, to complete strangers.
“I get paid a lot to give away hearts, but it isn’t money,” Burrill said. “I get more hugs and more smiles than you could believe.”
While Burriell gives his hearts away for free, he sells other artwork and donates the proceeds to Riverview. The funds help subsidize rent and other costs for residents in need of financial assistance.
It all began 25 years ago when he crafted a heart from leftover wood …