By Timothy L. Hockett
In the second half of December alone, the Peninsula Home Fund assisted more than 100 people.
Requests for rental assistance, help with energy bills, fuel assistance for work and medical needs; dental care and prescription drug assistance led the categories of requests.
OlyCAP also faced a new phenomenon this year as food and fuel prices spiked sharply in the summer — there was heavy demand on the Home Fund in July and August.
Thus the Home Fund can no longer be viewed as just a winter fund.
All year long demand grew; the final push came when the North Olympic Peninsula was blanketed with snow.
Requests for help came from every corner of Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The additional impacts of the recent global economic downturn exacerbated the problem, disproportionately affecting those at the bottom of the economic ladder.
Even people gainfully employed sought help; they simply did not bring home enough to take care of their basic needs.
This past year, the fund helped many people with a wide variety of needs, from personal hygiene items to household furnishings and supplies.
A number of our neighbors were assisted with car repairs and even public transportation to keep them in their jobs and a selected few with car insurance for the same reason.
But the Home Fund not only invites consideration of community need, it reflects the generosity of a community willing to give to help lift others.
Thanks all around are due:
• To all donors who took the time to read how their neighbors are helped — and then sat down to write a check.
• To the fine staff of OlyCAP who meet with those in need and draw upon the Home Fund to provide assistance.
• To the staff of the Peninsula Daily News for their unwavering dedication to strengthening the community by mobilizing its generous people.
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Tim Hockett is executive director of Olympic Community Action Programs — OlyCAP — which manages the Peninsula Home Fund for the Peninsula Daily News.
