EDITOR’s NOTE: – Tim Hockett is executive director of OlyCAP. This another in a series of articles on the Peninsula Home Fund. – The next article will appear Sunday with a list of new donors.
Every day, people walk into the offices of Olympic Community Action Programs – OlyCAP — in Forks, Port Angeles and Port Townsend.
Their problems are as varied as the families and individuals who are beset, and they’ve come to OlyCAP — the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula — for a helping hand.
OlyCAP also proudly screens applicants and manages the Peninsula Daily News’ “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.
And now the helpers need help.
OlyCAP is looking for volunteers.
More about that in a minute.
From Brinnon and Quilcene to Forks, from Port Townsend to Clallam Bay and Sekiu, the Peninsula Home Fund provides a safety net for residents of Jefferson and Clallam counties who have nowhere else to turn during a time of emergency.
No money is deducted for costs, administration or overhead by OlyCAP or the PDN.
Every penny donated goes to providing hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for children, car and home repairs for those with a low income, needed glasses, prescription drugs, dental work, safe housing . . . the list goes on and on.
In addition, OlyCAP’s Peninsula Home Fund case managers work with each individual or family to develop a plan to become financially stable — and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through the crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency.
That’s the “hand up, not a hand-out” focus of the fund.
As of this month, the fund had helped more than 1,500 individuals and families across the Peninsula.
Volunteers needed
Better known for the programs it operates — Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Energy Assistance, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and dozens of others — OlyCAP is the largest non-profit organization on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Its food distribution program helps to support a dozen food banks.
OlyCAP also operates four community centers.
On any given day, more than 100 OlyCAP Home Care Aides assist fragile, homebound seniors with various levels of domestic and personal assistance.
OlyCAP is looking for volunteers to help with the Peninsula Home Fund and its other good works.
“Since the Peninsula Daily News began the Home Fund in 1989, more and more people have turned to us each year for help in a personal emergency,” says Rita Houston, Division Director of OlyCAP’s Community Support Services division.
“In those early years, we only helped a couple dozen people and the money was gone in a month or two.
“Now we serve over 1,500 households annually, and that requires lots of attention — lots of staff time and, yes, lots of money.”
Houston estimates that her case managers work a minimum of one hour with each family, setting goals, establishing a plan so that the family can become stable as they receive help from the Peninsula Home Fund.
That is almost the equivalent of a full-time staff person all year.
“Our sincere desire is to provide a hand up, not just a handout,” says Houston.
“We try to address the root cause of the problem so that the financial assistance from the PDN Home Fund is meaningful and really helps folks get back on the road to self-sufficiency.
“We often combine help from the Home Fund with other resources to get a family on its feet.
“That’s why we are developing a volunteer program for people wanting to assist others in an emergency situation.”
Classes begin
One of OlyCAP’s VISTA volunteers, Lisa Leggio, has put together a program to recruit and train office volunteers who will take four-hour shifts as emergency service workers at OlyCAP’s offices in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Forks.
“As the number of individuals requesting assistance has dramatically risen over the years,” says Leggio, “OlyCAP staff has responded in kind by continuing to meet with every individual who walks through the door with a crisis.
“Now we are seeking a few dedicated people who are willing to go through comprehensive, specialized training to thoroughly prepare them to help others.”
“We are looking for a few committed people who want to make a real difference in the lives of fellow community members who are temporarily experiencing tough times.”
“As much as we love this community for its financial generosity [the PDN Home Fund rose to a record-setting $108,000 last year], we also now need special volunteers to help with the sheer numbers of families in need.”
“We would love to hear from a select few who would be willing to be trained and then volunteer at least half a day a week.”
Those interested in volunteering should call Leggio at OlyCAP at 360-452-4726.
The program is set to begin in January.
Holiday campaign
The 2005 Peninsula Home Fund holiday fund-raising campaign began on Thanksgiving Day and ends this Saturday, Dec. 31.
But the Peninsula Home Fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
Every gift will make a difference in somebody’s life.
Checks dated after Dec. 31 will go toward the 2006 campaign.
Indeed, contributions collected before Thanksgiving gave us a running start on this year’s holiday campaign.
In addition to no deductions whatsoever for costs, administration or overhead:
* All contributions to the Peninsula Home Fund are fully IRS tax-deductible.
* Your personal information is kept confidential.
The Peninsula Daily News does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
* Jefferson and Clallam individuals, couples, businesses and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2004 — $108,514.54.
All of that money is expected to be spent by Dec. 31.
* Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
* Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually up to $100.
* Assistance is limited to one time in a 12-month period.
To apply for a grant from the fund, phone OlyCAP at 360-452-4726 (Clallam County) or 360-385-2571 (Jefferson County).
If you have any questions about the fund, contact John Brewer, Peninsula Daily News editor and publisher, at 360-417-3500. Or e-mail him at john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com.
How to donate
A gift of any size is welcome.
The Peninsula Home Fund has never been a campaign of heavy hitters.
If you can contribute only a few dollars, please don’t hesitate because you think it won’t make a difference.
Every gift makes a difference, regardless of its size.
You will receive a written thank you and acknowledgment of your contribution.