EDITOR’S NOTE — For 21 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.
Today, we feature the first in a series of articles on how the fund operates and who benefits from our readers’ generosity.
The next article will appear Wednesday
.
By Tim Hockett
For Peninsula Daily News
QUILCENE — For all the struggles he’s gone through in the last few years, Charlie Hetrick is about as good-natured a person as you’ll find.
He kids and jokes as he tells his story of both success and struggle.
He begins with a chuckle and reminds us, “I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor — rich is better!”
He’s not overstating either situation.
Originally educated as a fisheries biologist, he eventually followed a career in construction.
He found himself in high demand and was soon building homes for the rich and famous.
“From basketball players to stars and other public figures, I had accounts for home construction that were both lucrative and glamorous,” he recalls.
“I was a contractor for 30 years, and I loved it.
“In those days when I was healthy, I also made sure I gave back to the community.
“I was a scoutmaster for six years. I donated my time and expertise to Habitat for Humanity and helped on a huge project in Seattle.”
He became a member of the Port Townsend Elks Lodge and helped with various projects, including the annual Easter Egg hunt.
“When I had money, I tried to help others,” says Charlie. “Now I know I have to just slow down and do what I can to earn a few dollars.”
A former black-powder rifle champion, Charlie gives shooting lessons, and he and his wife, Marti, are working on a book.
“I have applied for disability too, but it takes a long time to get it.”
It was six heart attacks and a stroke that knocked Charlie down a few notches.
His health completely gave out.
His wife attempted to find employment, but soon realized that Charlie’s need for care was too much to handle while trying to carry a job.
All it took was an auto accident, and they just about went under.
“Our first step was to just completely minimize our expenses,” he says.
“I had no insurance or other coverage.
“We used to live on the same property as my mother, and I paid all the rents — I could afford to be generous.
He chuckles again.
“Now I needed to find something really inexpensive, so we got this low-cost mobile home.”
He and Marti settled into an older mobile home on rural property near Quilcene and began to live on just a few hundred dollars a month.
As with many families who are struggling in this economy, Charlie and Marti began to make use of local resources to get by.
They became customers of the OlyCAP Thrift Shoppe in Port Hadlock.
Home Fund applicants
OlyCAP is nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
It also screens the applicants for the Peninsula Daily News’ “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund and distributes the funds.
“While shopping at the OlyCAP Thrift Shoppe, we read about other services that we might qualify for and made an appointment at the Port Townsend office of OlyCAP to see about getting some help on our PUD utility bill.
“The people at OlyCAP treated us well and not only helped us with our power bill but urged us to come to their energy conservation workshop.
“That was last April. We found that workshop interesting and started to switch out all of the light bulbs to the energy-efficient ones and take some conservation measures.”
Charlie makes a point of saying that all of the bulbs in the house are now energy-saving CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs).
“But the story doesn’t stop there,” he continues.
“We also found out that we likely qualified for home weatherization.
“We were delighted because this place was drafty and hard to heat in the winter.”
By means of federal stimulus dollars, Charlie was told, OlyCAP was able to expand its home weatherization program so that low-income families could permanently reduce their home-heating costs.
Within weeks, a crew from OlyCAP was on site at their home and fully insulated and sealed their home.
It was completed in June.
“See how cozy and warm our place is?” says Charlie.
“We can really feel the difference and the power bill is much cheaper.
“The crew was wonderful. After all those years as a contractor, I have a trained eye and I can tell you these guys did fine work and used excellent materials.
“They were punctual, efficient and really knew what they were doing. They did an excellent job.”
The initial piece of help that Charlie received was from the Peninsula Home Fund.
What started as a request for some help with one power bill (funded in part by the Home Fund), turned into a permanent reduction of their home heating costs through weatherization.
Through the generosity of your donations, the Peninsula Home Fund provides a unique lifeline on the North Olympic Peninsula.
All the money collected for the Home Fund goes — without any deductions — for hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for kids, home repairs for the low income, needed eyeglasses and prescription drugs, dental work, safe, drug-free temporary housing . . .
The list goes on and on.
From Jan. 1 through Nov. 23 this year, the Home Fund had helped more than 1,800 families in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
On that list are Charlie and Marti Hetrick.
No deductions — a ‘hand-up’
From Thanksgiving through Dec. 31, the PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund — a safety net for residents in Jefferson and Clallam counties when there is nowhere else to turn — is seeking contributions for its annual holiday season fund-raising campaign.
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to LaPush, it’s a “hand up, not a handout” for children, teens, families and the elderly.
• No money is deducted for administration or other overhead.
Your entire donation — 100 percent, every penny — goes to help those who are facing times of crisis.
• All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
• Your personal information is kept confidential.
Peninsula Daily News does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of the information.
• Instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through the crisis — and every effort is made to put them back on the path to self-sufficiency.
That’s the “hand up, not a handout” focus of the fund.
In many instances, Peninsula Home Fund case managers at OlyCAP work with individuals or families to develop a plan to become financially stable — and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
• Begun in 1989, the fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
Individuals, couples, businesses, churches, service organizations and school groups set a record for contributions in 2009 — $230,806.95.
With heavy demand this year, the carefully rationed fund is being rapidly depleted.
All the money collected in 2009 is expected to be spent before Dec. 31.
• Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from other agencies, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
• Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually up to $150.
• Assistance is limited to one time in a 12-month period.
Applying for a grant
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.
Peninsula Daily News publishes stories every Sunday and Wednesday during the fund-raising campaign listing contributors and reporting on how the fund works.
Contributions so far
We’ve gotten a running start on this year’s holiday season fundraising campaign.
A number of generous individuals and organizations have been donating money to the Peninsula Home Fund since the first of the year.
While most of the money is raised between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, the fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
Here is a list of donors whose contributions were received between last Jan. 1 and Nov. 24 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors like Charlie and Marti Hetrick:
• Jana Jackson, Carlsborg — $20. In honor of Oscar.
• WA Alpha Zeta Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Sequim — $50. In memory of Beverly (Betty) Grunwaldt.
• NO Sangha, a Zen Buddhist group in Port Angeles — $361.
• Port Townsend School of Massage, Port Townsend — $500.
• Ake Almgren, Sequim. — $1,000.
• Clallam County Road Department Employees, Port Angeles — $200. The employees chipped in from their own pockets to make this donation.
• Fran and Andy Andrews, Port Angeles — $50.
• Cub Scout Pack 4686, Port Angeles — $200. Proceeds from a silent raffle for baked goods donated by members of the Pack at our Feb. 1 Blue and Gold banquet. Please accept this with our thanks. Pack 4686 joins you in supporting the community in which we live and grow.
• Just Dolls of Washington, Port Angeles — $350. From our recent drawing for an American Girl doll and her wardrobe, shown at our Feb. 6 show and sale.
• Venture Club of Port Angeles — $300.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested that the amount of their donation be kept private):
• Judy Carlson, Port Angeles.
• Gerald and Diana Estberg, Port Angeles.
• Richard Seaman, Port Angeles.
• Karl and Linda Flotto, Port Angeles. In honor of Josh Dae Ho Carrell.
• Howard and Jean Burch, Sequim. In honor of all law enforcement officers.
• Carol and Chick Carmichael, Port Angeles.
• Al and Kitty Gross, Port Angeles.
• Barnell Family, Port Angeles.
• Ray and Sue Hulse, Port Angeles.
• Jean W. Wright, Sequim.
• Carol Ahrens, Sequim. In memory of my mother.
• Hazel Vail, Port Angeles. In memory of Ken Vail.
• Jaqueline and Neil Eklund, Sequim.
• David and Sandy Matson, Sequim.
• Edith Christie, Port Angeles.
• Sally Pfaff and Monte Reinders, Port Townsend.
• Christina and Brando Blore, Port Angeles.
• Carol and Doug Holst, Port Angeles.
• Charles and Valerie Lutes, Sequim.
• Charles A. Miller, New Market, Va. In memory of Charles D. Louch, a colleague at Lake Forest College until his retirement in 1989, and a valuable friend for 35 years.
• Richard Lorentzen, Port Angeles. In honor of Alice and Dick Lorentzen.
• JoAnne Fleming, Sequim.
• Carol and Amy DeQuoy, Sequim.
• Sarah Mylchreest and Mark Newbold, Sequim.
• Lucille G. Person, Port Townsend.
• Ruth Womac, Port Angeles. In memory of Lou Rumbaugh.
• Dennis Duncan, Port Angeles. In memory of Dorothy Duncan.
• William and Lois Zynda, Port Angeles.
• William and Susan Brager, Forks.
• Richard and Ginger Haberman, Forks. In honor of Janet and Cassidy Hunter.
• Bob and Alison Capener, Port Townsend. In memory of the lost boys, Mark and Rob.
• Millie Lyon, Port Angeles. In honor of The Lunch Bunch.
• Donald Mlady and Frank Mlady, Las Vegas. In memory of Lula Susan Rumbaugh.
• DeDe Juliussen, Sequim.
• A bunko group in Sequim. We decided to put the winning money toward a worthy cause instead of a prize.
• Allan Wolter, Sequim.
• Karen Meuir, Port Angeles.
• D. Jean Lodeen, Port Angeles. In memory of Erven Lodeen.
• Betsy Wharton, Port Angeles.
• Marlyce Jacobs, Port Angeles. In memory of Lula Susan Rumbaugh.
• Don and Kaylene Skanchy, Brinnon.
• Karen and Jim Meuir, Port Angeles.
• Sandra Smith-Poling, M.D., Port Townsend. In honor of Sandra and Mitch Poling.
• Robert and Berit Cole, Sequim. In memory of Dave Darlington.
• Diane Bergmen, Sequim.
• Peggy Manspeaker, Port Ludlow.
• Estes Builders, Sequim.
• Jean Coplin, Port Angeles. In memory of William Coplin.
• Linda Norris, Port Angeles.
• Mountain View Rebekah Lodge 34, Port Angeles.
• Stanley R. Johann, Sequim.
• Olympic Springs, Inc., Carlsborg.
• Mad Maggi Boutique and Salon, Sequim.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested anonymity):
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $30.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Sequim — $25.
• Port Angeles — $30.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Townsend — $25.
• Sequim — $50.
• No hometown given — $10.
• Port Angeles — $150.
• Sequim — $200.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $250. Thanks for doing this.
• Port Angeles — $100. In honor of Jesus.
• Sequim — $750.
• Carlsborg — $1,000.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Ludlow — $100.
• Sequim — $20.
• Sequim — $10.
• Sequim — $25.
• Port Angeles — $50. In honor of the Port Angeles Police Department.
• Sequim — $20.
• Port Townsend — $100.
• Sequim — $100.
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $100.
• Sequim — $200. Thank you for your good works. God bless!
• Seattle — $50. In honor of Mark and Patricia Hannah. Mark Hannah did me a kindness a month ago near Port Angeles.
• Port Angeles — $40.
• Port Angeles — $30.
_________
HANDWRITING CAN BE hard to decipher at times.
Please report any errors in this list to John Brewer, 360-417-3500 (there’s voice mail if he’s away) — or e-mail him at john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com.
We’ll rerun the listing correctly.
Our sincerest appreciation again to our donors.