By TIM HOCKETT
Special to Peninsula Daily News
I AM CONCERNED for the future of many households on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Too many of our neighbors are barely surviving current economic stresses at the same time our community’s ability to provide help is eroding.
At least 10 percent of our labor force is unemployed. Many more are under-employed — forced to take low-paying jobs.
Poverty is rising in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
We believe more than 15,000 residents across the North Olympic Peninsula are now under the federal poverty line.
These folks will go to bed tonight worrying how they’ll get by tomorrow.
This anxiety walks through our doors at OlyCAP in the form of individuals and families, turning to the community for help.
“OlyCAP” is the short form of our name: Olympic Community Action Programs.
Our job is to provide local solutions to community needs.
We exist as your helping hand, and we offer that hand up through many programs large and small.
In 2010, we worked with more than 6,600 families comprising more than 12,000 people — a record we didn’t want to set.
But OlyCAP is stressed by more than high demand.
Funding for many of our programs is being reduced at an alarming rate.
These reductions, whether federal, state or local, have forced us to reduce some services and even eliminate some altogether.
From our viewpoint, the safety net is breaking.
And more service reductions may be necessary as further funding cuts are threatened.
President Obama has proposed cutting Community Action’s core funding Community Services Block Grant in half.
In the throes of a recession, our good work is needed more — not less.
To address growing need over the past two years, we at OlyCAP poured every discretionary dollar into our service to the community.
Our reserves are depleted.
We know that to continue to serve, we need to look at every avenue to generate funds, streamline our organization and find better ways to conduct business.
We are doing just that, re-examining everything we do so that we may remain true to our mission and serve struggling families effectively.
The community and OlyCAP need your help.
Here are some concrete things you can do to make a difference:
■ Be a good neighbor.
Be sensitive to what folks are going through and offer help where you can.
OlyCAP is convinced that the old-fashioned notion of “neighbor helping neighbor” is what helps communities survive difficult times.
■ Be aware that help is available.
In collaboration with United Way, we have developed a brochure titled, “Help for Hard Times.”
It and other good information is available at any OlyCAP office and is also available on our website, www.olycap.org.
■ Be generous.
Donate to food banks, volunteer at feeding programs or shelters and support your favorite charity.
And, yes, consider OlyCAP.
To the degree you are able, please contribute to OlyCAP’s good work.
■ Be an ambassador.
Advocate at all levels of government for basic human services and for community action.
Urge your elected representatives to support Community Service Block Grants and Community Action.
Talk to your church or civic or fraternal organization about becoming more involved in helping people make it through the coming months.
We can get through this recession if we pull together — if we take real community action.
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Timothy L. Hockett is executive director of OlyCAP. Contact Hockett at THockett@olycap.org, or 360-452-4726 (Clallam County) or 360-385-2571 (Jefferson County).
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