EDITOR’s NOTE: – This is another in a series of articles on the Peninsula Home Fund. Click on the HOME FUND link at left to generate a coupon to use with your donation. Thanks!
FORKS — For Cheyenne Blumberg, finding a way to care for her two children on a limited income has always been difficult.
She usually scraped together enough — “I am usually good at paying the bills.”
But last August, the family’s expenses got ahead of her — “I discovered I did not have enough to pay the rent and began to panic.”
She turned to OlyCAP — Olympic Community Action Programs, and caseworkers began working with her — not only to get through this crisis, but to make sure it didn’t reoccur.
Today she is in OlyCAP’s Community Jobs Program and is working at the Forks Clothing Bank.
OlyCAP also found a way to provide needed funds for car repairs and gas vouchers to allow her to travel to and from work.
And $100 from the Peninsula Daily News’ Peninsula Home Fund was used to pay the balance needed to meet the family’s rent.
Back to self-sufficiency
The PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund is a safety net for local people like Blumberg and her children when they face emergency situations — and can’t find help elsewhere.
Every penny goes — without any deductions for administration or other costs — for hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for kids, home repairs for the low income, needed prescription drugs, dental work, safe, drug-free temporary housing, eyeglasses — the list goes on and on.
In addition, all instances of help — usually $100 or so — are coupled with programs to get an individual or family back on the path to self-sufficiency.
Cheyenne, 27, is the mother of three children. Two of them live with her — 7-year-old Nicholas and 4-year-old Hannah.
Her 10-year-old son, Christopher, lives with his father.
Cheyenne said people who donate money to the fund need to know how valuable the money is to people in need.
“It is sometimes difficult to make it,” she said.
“It is nice to know that there is help for people who need it.”
Cheyenne said she is also getting her personal life back on track. She is proud of graduating from a substance abuse program which she entered after losing her driver’s license last year.
“I got a DUI, but I am doing better and glad to have my driver’s license back. I got it back early after writing a long letter to the judge explaining how good I am doing,” she said.
“Having a car helps me care for my children and makes life easier.”
Cheyenne said she is overwhelmed by the support and encouragement she has received from OlyCAP officials and people at West End Outreach Services.
“There are a lot of very giving people that really help a lot,” she said. “It really surprises me how helpful people can be.”
Cheyenne said Cathy Ulin, community resource referral services manager in the Forks OlyCAP office, has helped her tremendously.
“Cathy has been so wonderful,” Cheyenne said. “She is very attentive to my needs and is always very helpful.”
Jefferson and Clallam
Peninsula Home Fund is seeking contributions for its annual holiday-season fund-raising campaign which began on Thanksgiving and ends this Wednesday, New Year’s Eve.
Now in its 15th year, the Peninsula Home Fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
It is managed for the Peninsula Daily News by OlyCAP, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula.
As they did with Cheyenne, 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.
* In the past 12 months, the fund has assisted more than 750 households with a “hand-up, not a handout.”
* All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
* No money is diverted for administration or other overhead. All costs are absorbed by the PDN and OlyCAP.
* Donors’ personal information is kept confidential.
The PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
* Individuals, couples, businesses and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2002 — $67,048.
All of that money is expected to be spent by Dec. 31.
* 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.
* 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.
A letter from Dad
Last week we received a copy of a Dec. 1 letter that a man sent to his children, asking them to donate to the Peninsula Home Fund instead of buying him a Christmas gift:
I’ve been thinking about the Spirit of Christmas and came to one conclusion.
We have been reading and hearing of all the folks in Clallam County that are either out of work, or their homes and property were destroyed by storms these past several weeks, so I am going to give a sizable check to the Peninsula Home Fund.
For years I’ve been a perpetual grump at Christmas when it comes to how commercial the season is.
Except for small children, it has made more sense to me to give you money so you can buy what you want or need.
I also know how you feel about giving me something when I have everything, so here is my suggestion:
In memory of your mother, “God rest her soul,” I’d like to see you send a check payable to the Home Fund in whatever amount you feel you can give.
So fill out the enclosed form and, with your check, place it in a sealed envelope and in another envelope send it to me.
I don’t want to see the amount.
By Dec. 20, or sooner, I will submit all envelopes to Peninsula Daily News so they can publish what the total amount will be, including my check. Again, I repeat, no one will know what each of you gave.
Doing that will be your Christmas present to me. Also, I only wish your Mom were here to witness your generosity.
Dad.
How to donate
A gift of any size is welcome.
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.
New donations
The total collected so far is $55,749.97.
The following are contributions received between Saturday, Dec. 20, and Wednesday, Dec. 24 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors:
* Marion’s Port Angeles Antiques, Port Angeles, $100.
* Out on a Limb Landscape, Port Angeles, $100.
* The Dalton family, Port Angeles, $680; in memory of Mother Chris.
* Monte Rivett, Port Angeles, $50; in honor of Bob, Rose and Bill.
* Monty and Gerry Crouch, Sequim, $30; in memory of our parents.
* Paul Gottlieb, Port Angeles, $50; in memory of Stuart Gottlieb.
* Mary Louise Melly, Port Angeles, $100; in honor of the Peninsula College Educare, Early Head Start and Early Childhood Education staff. Thanks for all the support you give to children and families in our program.
* Nancy and Larry Lane, Port Angeles, $50.
* Ray Weinmann. Port Angeles, $100.
* Karen Blessing, Port Townsend, $50.
* Valerie Cunningham, Port Angeles, $50.
Many thanks also to these donors; the amount of the donation is private:
* Rudy and April Hiener, Port Angeles; in memory of Ken and Charlotte Bradford.
* Wanda M. Sindars, Port Angeles; in memory of Michael A. Sindars. When your life was taken, a big part of our life went with you — we loved you so very much. We miss you so much. From Gram, Dad and uncles Rick and Robin.
* Janae Fish, Port Angeles; in honor of the self-employed.
* Edward M. Hebert, Port Angeles; Greetings and merry Christmas, ILB.
* Diane Thompson, Port Angeles; in memory of Tom and Shirley Martin. Two outstanding individuals that are still truly missed. May their stars always shine bright.
* Linda Beasler, Port Angeles; in memory of Jim Beasler from his family. Also a thank you to everyone who sent money to the fund in his memory.
* Marie Wall, Port Angeles; in memory of Daniel Pickard. Peninsula Daily News staff: May joy be your gift at Christmas and may faith, hope and love be your treasures in the New Year. Best wishes, Marie and Gary Wall.
* Janet Fisch, Port Angeles; in honor of “The Birthday Bunch” — from Jan.
* Susan and Bill Brager, Forks; in memory of Jean Brager Wood.
* Lucille Caughron, Sequim; in memory of Leonard Caughron.
* Arlene and Russ McClelland, Sequim; in memory of Meg McClelland.
* Frances I. Chavis, Port Angeles; in memory of Thresa Carpenter.
* Donald and Barbara Reidel, Port Angeles; in memory of Matt Reidel.
* Gene and Jolenta Masterson, Sequim; in memory of Paula Sargent.
* Harriet Hertzog, Port Angeles; in memory of Fred Hertzog.
* Mary K. Otto, Port Angeles; in memory of Si Otto.
* Mary Kelsoe, Port Angeles; in memory of Irma Lindsey.
* Frances and Candace Chavis, Port Angeles; in memory of Frenchy Conrad.
* Warren and Chris, Port Townsend; in memory of Clarence Brown.
* Rita Marston, Port Angeles; in memory of Donald Marston.
* Ed and Vi Nobbs, Sequim; in memory of Ralph D. Barth.
* Jean Stolley, Port Angeles; in honor of Angie Conlay.
* Ronald and Marilyn Carlson, Sequim.
* Roland C. and Vivian G. Raymond, Port Townsend.
* P.J. Carlson, Port Angeles.
* Frank and Sue Johnson, Sequim.
* John and Eleanor Byrne, Sequim.
* Shirley Mrizek, Sequim.
* James Mraz, Huntington Beach, Calif.
* Don Case, Sequim.
* Don Wilson, Port Townsend.
* Jeff and Donna Green, Sequim.
* Glenn and Carole Hart, Sequim.
* Sue and Allen Herlyck, Port Angeles.
* John and Carol Sinton, El Paso, Texas.
* Darold and Kay Seed, Port Angeles.
* Don and Andi Taylor, Sequim.
* Weldon and Joan Sharp, Sequim.
* Lucy E. Willis, Sequim.
* John and Darlene Mjoen, Port Ludlow.
* Clay Rennie
* William and Willa Hall, Sequim
Many thanks also to these donors who requested anonymity:
* Beaver, $250; in memory of Dirk Milici.
* Port Angeles, $200; in memory of our parents and son.
* Forks, $200; in memory of Sylvia Murphy.
* Sequim, $20; in honor of officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and all nurses! Wish it could be more.
* Sequim, $50; in memory of Diane Demorest.
* Port Angeles, $50; in honor of Grace and Jay, France and Gail.
* Forks, $50; in honor of wildland firefighters.
* Port Angeles, $225.
* Port Angeles, $200.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $101.
* Brinnon, $50.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $35.
* Location not specified, cash contribution, $100.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Brinnon, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Townsend, $100.
* Sequim, $200.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Townsend, $250
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Townsend, $100.
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Handwriting can be hard to decipher at times. Please report any errors in this list to John Brewer, 360-417-3500; john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com. Our sincerest appreciation again to our donors.