How to donate, apply for COVID-19 Relief Fund

The Peninsula Daily News and Olympic Community Action Programs converted the Peninsula Home Fund into the COVID-19 Relief Fund on March 18 to create a way for neighbors to help each other through the economic repercussions of the response to the unique coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund assistance is not limited to a specific dollar amount, though guidelines are in place for each type of need, according to Audrey Morford, executive coordinator at Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP).

”The goal of each service will be to completely meet the need in question,” she said.

“We believe that the spirit of the COVID-19 Relief Fund is to expediently and efficiently have a stabilizing impact on those experiencing the most sudden and drastic change in circumstances due to this crisis,” she added.

To apply for a Peninsula Home Fund grant, see the OlyCAP website at www.olycap.org, by email at info@olycap.org or contact an OlyCAP office by telephone. OlyCAP has closed its offices to face-to-face contact but is still providing services.

• Clallam County residents can call 360-452-4726.

• Jefferson County residents can call 360-385-2571.

Leave a message in the voicemail box at either number, and a caseworker will call you back.

All donations to the Peninsula Home Fund have been converted temporarily to the COVID-19 Relief Fund and are channeled to OlyCAP specifically for those who need a little financial help because of layoffs, short hours, school closures or other reasons.

Checks must be written to the Peninsula Home Fund, but donations go to COVID-19 Relief Fund.

To donate, write a check to the Peninsula Home Fund, attach it to the coupon that appears in today’s PDN and mail both items to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

Checks and coupons also can be dropped though the PDN mail slot at the office at 305 W. First St., Port Angeles.

The office is closed to walk-in traffic to protect the health of employees and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

You can also contribute online with a credit card at www.olycap.org, where a “donate to COVID-19 Relief Fund” button will direct you to the form that was for the 2019 Peninsula Home Fund. Despite the label on the form, it will get donations to the right place to be used for virus impact relief.

Like the Peninsula Home Fund, no money will be deducted by the Peninsula Daily News for administration fees or any other overhead.

Every penny will go to OlyCAP, which will use 10 percent to help pay for services.

All contributions are federally tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law for the year in which the check is written.

Your personal information is kept confidential. PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone or make any other use of it.

If you have any questions about the fund, call Publisher Terry R. Ward at 360-417-3500 or email tward@soundpublishing.com.