Olympic Community Action Programs closed it’s offices to the public Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in addition to the three community centers that it manages in Jefferson County: Brinnon, Quilcene and Tri-Area. They will be operating through phones and email with their customers. (Zach Jablonski/Peninsula Daily News)

Olympic Community Action Programs closed it’s offices to the public Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in addition to the three community centers that it manages in Jefferson County: Brinnon, Quilcene and Tri-Area. They will be operating through phones and email with their customers. (Zach Jablonski/Peninsula Daily News)

OlyCAP offices closed to public

Work completed through phone, email; food services offered to-go

Olympic Community Action Programs has closed its offices to the public and the teams are conducting their business through phone and email in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Offices in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Forks closed Tuesday, along with the Brinnon, Quilcene and Tri-Area community centers, which Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) manages through an agreement with Jefferson County.

Office doors will not be open, but staff will be available to answer the phones 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For services in Jefferson County, call 360-385-2571. For services in Clallam County, call 360-452-4726, said Cherish Cronmiller, executive director of OlyCAP.

Customers also can email staff at info@olycap.org.

“We encourage people to call us if they are facing possible utility disconnection, and/or need: shelter, food, or volunteer assistance due to self-isolation,” she said.

“The phones between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. will be answered as if [someone] walked in the door.”

OlyCAP plans to follow the scheduling of the school districts and will operate in this manner until April 27 or until advised by county and state health organizations.

The community centers still will offer essential services such as preparing and handing out meals, commodity boxes, food bank drive-through distribution, tax preparation, and help with census, Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Cronmiller said.

“We are sorry to the groups and persons that have reserved the centers, but we feel an obligation to protect the staff and community,” Cronmiller said.

At the Port Angeles Senior Center and at the Tri-Area Community Center, OlyCAP will still have its warm congregate meals for people who have pre-registered for them, but the meals will be offered to-go only. Groups will not be allowed to gather to eat, Cronmiller said.

OlyCAP also will give congregate meal participants the choice of taking home frozen meals and/or shelf-stable commodity boxes. The organization will continue its Senior Nutrition Home Delivered Meals, Cronmiller said.

The Emergency Shelter in Port Townsend is in self-isolation mode as of Sunday evening, Cronmiller said.

Anyone who entered the shelter will be agreeing to stay in the shelter until other arrangements can be made. From anyone who doesn’t agree to stay, OlyCAP is asking for contact information so said persons can be contacted if necessary, said Cronmiller.

“We have some volunteers with COAST (Community Outreach Association Shelter Team) that will be helping to prepare and drop off three meals to the roughly twenty-five people there, but we anticipate that volunteer team will need more help or could use offers from local restaurants,” she said.

In addition to food, Cronmiller also discussed with the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners that she is looking for entertainment such as portable DVD players or other streaming devices to help those staying there, she said.

Those interested in donating are encouraged to call the Port Townsend office at 360-385-2571 ext. 1010.

OlyCAP created a form for people to complete if they are willing to volunteer during the crisis. Since it was initially shared on Saturday, there has been over 100 responses so far, Cronmiller said.

OlyCAP created another form for people to use if they need help as another alternative to the phone numbers and email.

“Using these forms and phone numbers, OlyCAP hopes to serve as a point of contact in the two counties for volunteers and as a resource for community members, especially those that are low and fixed income in need of assistance,”Cronmiller said.

OlyCAP has also closed its Early Childhood and Head Start classrooms and are working on home-learning plans and checking in weekly with the families affected, Cronmiller said.

The adult day care is closed, and the staff are working on potentially offering one-on-one music and art therapy for those customers, Cronmiller said.

Cronmiller is encouraging people to follow OlyCAP’s Facebook page for updates, calls for volunteers and donation requests.

________

Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Kennedy Reynolds, 2, takes a look at a row of lavender plants with her mother, Chelsea Reynolds of Port Angeles, during a Saturday outing to B & B Family Lavender Farm west of Sequim. The farm will be a participant in this weekend’s Lavender Weekend, a celebration of all things lavender in Sequim and across the Dungeness Valley. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Fields of lavender

Kennedy Reynolds, 2, takes a look at a row of lavender plants… Continue reading

Burn ban ordered due to forecast

Peninsula expecting temperatures near 90

Habitat project moves forward with infrastructure funds

Clallam County to provide $800K for Lyon’s Landing

Humane Society to house dangerous animals again

Contract with Clallam County to go through 2026

Port Angeles shade tree program open for applications

The City Shade Tree Program is returning for a… Continue reading

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on display during Friday evening’s 29th annual Ruddell Cruise-In at Ruddell Auto in Port Angeles. The event featured hundreds of antique and vintage automobiles from across the region as well as food, music and other activities. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Classic show

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on… Continue reading

Sequim School District officials report it could take upwards of 2 1/2 years to break ground on a new elementary school. Voters approved a $146 million, 20-year construction bond in a Feb. 11 special election that includes a new elementary school, renovated high school and more. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim schools eye bond timeline

Bigger projects may be 2 years away

Sequim volunteer Emily Westcott has led the flower basket program along Washington Street since 1996. This year she’s retired to focus on other endeavors, and the city of Sequim and the Sequim School District will continue the partnership. Westcott is still seeking donations for downtown Sequim Christmas decorations through the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim flower basket program shifts to city, school partnership

Westcott retires, plans to keep decorating downtown for Christmas

Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program

County eligible to apply for Medicare reimbursement for services

Writers to converge in Port Townsend to work on craft

Free readings open to the public next week

Firefighters extinguish blaze in fifth-floor hotel room

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Navy Region… Continue reading

Mowing operation scheduled along Lake Crescent on Tuesday

Work crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading