Though Lanny Burrill retired many years ago, you will still find him busy all day in the wood shop at Riverview Retirement Community.
At 82 years old, Lanny spends her time turning leftover wood into small wooden hearts. He gives them out to anyone he meets. His hope is simple:“I want people to feel special and loved,” he says.
For two decades, Lanny has spent her time crafting little wooden hearts, one by one, with care and love. But this was not something he planned. It all began by accident.
“One day I found a pretty piece of wood in my basement, so I shaped it into a heart and gave it to my wife. She loved it, so I made more,” he explained.
This year alone, Lanny has made around 1,500 hearts. He draws each one by hand, carefully cuts them, and sands them with three kinds of sandpaper until they are smooth to the touch.
Each heart takes about 20 minutes to make.
Lanny began building things from wood when he was a kid, and it quickly became something he loved to do. Growing up on a farm in Oregon, he built things like popcorn bowls and racks for carrying animals to the fair. Now, he uses those same skills to brighten people’s lives.
“I always try to give someone a heart. A waitress, a cashier, a child—if their parent says it is okay, i will ask if they had like one,” says Lanny.
He never leaves home without a few hearts in his pocket.
One special moment happened at Costco. Lanny once handed a woman a wooden heart that had a small knot in it. Tears filled her eyes as she said, I lost my son last year, and i have felt empty ever since.” That little heart touched her deeply.
About ten years ago, Lanny began giving her heart to local schools. When a child is feeling sad or going through something tough, school counselors offer them one of Lanny’s hearts.
One day, a little boy picked up a heart where the wood grain looked like a person with open arms. The boy smiled and said, It looks just like my guardian angel.
It is moments like that that keep Lanny going. He stays in the shop, sanding and shaping, making sure each heart is just right.
He says it is not about him—it’s about giving others a small reminder that someone cares. It is worth it. It keeps me going. So many people are hurting. I just want them to know they are not alone,” Lanny says with a smile.
