You did it. You created a safety net for our neighbors on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Thank you.
Despite stock market jitters and the press of so many worthy causes soliciting donations during the holiday season, you amassed a fund of $198,329 for the 2018 Peninsula Home Fund campaign.
Hundreds of large and small donations added up to a year’s worth of money available for small grants to help those in need and give them hope as they work for a better life.
Case managers at Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) will use the fund to help people over rough spots so that they can continue to do what’s needed to be self-sufficient.
You contributed to honor loved ones. You contributed as groups, couples or individuals. Some of you contributed anonymously.
Your generosity has created a resource forour neighbors in 2019 through funding the “hand up, not a handout” Home Fund.
Most awards to individuals and households from the Home Fund are small — but they can cover huge gaps.
In 2018, individual grants that averaged $129 per person helped more than 1,000 people.
The Peninsula Home Fund provided money for gas for critical treatments for a child born deaf.
It helped a Sequim couple repair a well.
It assured a Port Townsend man rent as he retrained.
A small grant allowed a Port Angeles family to buy two small appliances, showing, they said, that “there are people out there who can help,” and encouraging them to give back in other ways.
It provided $2,000 a month to Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics (VIMO) to provide dental care to people who otherwise would suffer without it.
It made it possible for an Army veteran and recovering addict to move into his own low-income apartment.
Now clean and sober, he quoted a friend of his: ” “If you’re not seeing miracles every day, you’re not paying attention.”
The annual generous donations to the Peninsula Home Fund, which just finished its 30th campaign, every year have provided miracles for thousands of Peninsula residents.
Since 1989, the fund has raised more than $3.69 million — all used to give a little support that can mean a lot.
Who knows? This year, the fund may help a few federal employees survive the partial government shutdown.
“The generosity of our readers and residents on the North Olympic Peninsula is heartwarming,” said Terry R. Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News. “The fact that every year, they continue to donate their hard-earned money to give others a hand up says a lot about the character of our neighbors.”
Fund never closes
The books on the 2018 fund drive are closed. But the Peninsula Home Fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
They can be sent at any time to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
New contributions will go toward the 2019 campaign.
All Peninsula Home Fund contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
The fund’s IRS number, under the auspices of OlyCAP, is 91-0814319.
Your 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.
The Peninsula Home Fund is registered with the Washington secretary of state’s charities division in Olympia.
Applying for a grant
To apply for a Peninsula Home Fund grant, contact one of the three OlyCAP offices:
• OlyCAP’s Port Angeles office is at 228 W. First St., Suite J (Armory Square Mall); 360-452-4726. For Port Angeles- and Sequim-area residents.
• Its Port Townsend office is at 823 Commerce Loop; 360-385-2571. For Jefferson County residents.
• The Forks office is at 421 Fifth Ave.; 360-374-6193. For West End residents.
Leave a message in the voice mail box at any of the three numbers, and a Home Fund caseworker will phone you back.
OlyCAP’s website is www.olycap.org. To contact by email, write action@ olycap.org.
Dale Wilson, OlyCAP’s executive director, oversees disbursements from the Peninsula Home Fund. He can be reached at 360-385-2571 or by emailing dwilson@olypen.com.
If you have any questions about the fund, phone the PDN at 360-452-2345.
Donors
The following are the last of the 2018 donations, given by cash, credit cards and checks processed by Tuesday.
Name and amount
Michele and Jeff Reynolds, Port Angeles, $50. In honor of Ruth Westmoreland “Grammy.”
Chari Larue, Sequim, $100.
Pat and Connie, Sequim, $500.
RJ Services Inc., Port Angeles, $1,000.
Lex and Karla Morgan, Sequim, $300.
Diane Pirner, Sequim, $500. In honor of Conrad Pirner.
Wilma Murray, Port Angeles, $100. In memory of Gene, Kevin and Stacey Beck and Bill Murray.
The Heien Family, Sequim, $250. In honor of Nan.
Rosemary Thompson, Port Angeles, $50.
Paul Lotzgesell, Sequim, $100.
Port Angeles High School Class of 1954, Port Angeles, $125. In honor of the Class of 1954.
The Smith Parker families, Port Angeles, $100. In memory of Daniel Holmquist.
Myrna Juergens, Sequim, $100.
Jerry and Jackie Schwagler, Quilcene, $2,000.
Tony and Ferdinand, Port Angeles, $50.
The Crow Foundation, Shreveport, La., $10,000.
NO Sangha, a zen meditation group, Port Angeles, $1,030.
Name only
Grace’s Bounty Fund.
Mary B. Carter, Sequim.
Jim and Robbie Mantooth, Port Angeles. In honor of William B. “Bill” Tiffany.
Dorothy and Ron Brown, Sequim. In honor of George Woodriff.
Dennis and Georgia Bickford, Sequim. In honor of all those you have helped.
Erika Lindholm, Port Angeles.
Lucy E. Willis, Sequim. In memory of Alvin H. Willis.
Gary Swenson, Port Angeles.
Anita Leccese, Port Angeles.
Michael Moss, Sequim.
Ken and Ann Burland, Sequim.
Robert Colquhoun, Vancouver, Wash.
Veronica Heath, Port Ludlow.
John and Mary Wegmann, Port Angeles.
Mike and Chris Barton, Sequim.
Bruce and Judy Pape, Port Angeles. In honor of Erv Marriott.
Robert Zeff, Sequim.
David Brewer, Port Angeles.
Barbara K. Lawson, Columbia, Md. In honor of Harriet Lawson.
Ethel Butler, Port Angeles. In memory of Harold Butler.
Robert and Virginia Bowling, Sequim.
Ross and Laurie D’Alessandro, Sequim.
David and Ann Salmon, Sequim.
Janet Cattano, Sequim.
Eric and Christine Brown, Port Angeles.
Dee and Garry Kispert, Sequim.
Debi and Phil Saxton, Port Townsend. In loving memory of Donald and Eileen Garling.
Diane and Steven Ross, Sequim.
John and Sarah Davis, Sequim. In memory of Joe Hart.
J.W. James Jr., Sequim.
Winifred Mayes, Sequim. In memory of John Kays.
Pat Wisen, Sequim.
Tom and Jan Kummet, Sequim.
William Bugg, Sequim. In honor of Sharon Bugg.
Jan Yates, Port Angeles. In honor of The L. Olsen Family.
Mara and Paul Mowery, Port Angeles. In memory of George Bergner.
William P. and Shannon M. Slattery, Sequim. In honor of Edward and Molly Crowley.
Susan Owens, Olympia. In memory of Hazel E. Owens, 101.
Dave and Sally Ellefson, Port Angeles.
Muriel Main, Port Angeles. In memory of Al.
LaRue Robirts, Sequim. In memory of Dale Robirts.
Pat Gilbert, Port Angeles. In memory of Michael and Dottie.
The Thatchers, Sequim. In honor of all our heroes in the 9/11 attacks.
Stanley and Ravel Cowen, Port Angeles.
Glen and Jeanie Robards, Seqium.
The Strait Family, Port Angeles. In memory of Evan and Matt Waldron.
Gene and Lois Brown, Sequim. In honor of Greg Brown.
Carol Anne Modena, Port Townsend. In memory of Dana Roberts of Port Townsend.
M. Clunis and M. Schonfield, Port Townsend.
Loretta King, Sequim.
Chris and Warren Walvatne, Port Townsend. In memory of Greg (Sasquatch) Lippincott.
Chris Walvatne, Port Townsend. In memory of our parents, Clarence and Betty and Casper and Anna.
Sharon Scairpon, Carlsborg. In honor of family and friends.
Lyell Fox, Sequim. In memory of Mary Roon.
Shirley Widdicombe, Sequim.
Bob and Lucille Schmitt, Port Angeles.
Nadine Fuller, Forks.
Ray and Jan Morgan, Port Angeles.
Hannah Singhose, Port Angeles. In honor of all those who serve our communities selflessly.
Gary and Lynn Anderson, Sequim.
Bronson West and Marian Birch, Port Angeles.
Jeff and Barbara Carlson, Port Angeles.
James Emery, Port Angeles.
David and Barbara Allen, Forks. In memory of Barney and Sylvia Murphy.
Diane N. Kenitzer, Sequim. In memory of Rolland Kenitzer.
Ron and Bobbi Jean Khile, Port Townsend. In memory of Bob and Bettie Duncan. Miss you and love you, dad and mom.
Jerry and Gail Danner, Port Townsend.
Richard and Jacqueline Wilhelm, Port Angeles.
Larry and Jackie Aase. Port Townsend.
Gary Zellmer, Sequim.
Barbara Erler and Mel Perricone, Sequim. In memory of Jim Dow and Jim Harlan.
Freia Palmer, Port Angeles.
Anonymous
Sequim, $40.
Port Angeles, $500.
Sequim, $25.
Sequim, $500. In memory of Lucille Sumerwell.
Sequim, $100.
Port Angeles, $200.
Port Angeles, $100.
Port Angeles, $30. In the spirit of the Baha’i faith.
Port Angeles, $200.
Port Angeles, $500. In honor of Mary Lee Long.
Port Angeles, $1,000.
Port Angeles, $110. In honor of Greta Thunberg.
Port Townsend, $50.
$25. In memory of Harald Isdahl (master builder).
Port Townsend, $50.
Sequim, $50.
Port Townsend, $100.
Port Angeles, $100.
Port Angeles, $250. In honor of all those helping others.
Sequim, $100. In memory of Jim Reed.
Port Angeles, $300.
Port Angeles, $2,000.
Port Ludlow, $100.
Port Angeles, $200. In memory of Dr. Gerilee Gustason.
Port Angeles, $200.
Port Angeles, $50.
Port Angeles, $500.
Sequim, $100.
Port Angeles, $444.
Port Angeles, $500.
Port Angeles, $300.
Port Angeles, $200.
Sequim, $100.
Sequim, $100.
Sequim, $500.
Sequim, $100.
Sequim, $1,000. In memory of Jane Kutsher.
Port Angeles, $150.
Port Angeles, $25.
Port Angeles, $25.
Port Townsend, $50.
Sequim, $100. In loving memory of Steven D. Weller, our dearly loved family member. He is very much missed by all.
Sequim, $200.
Sequim, $300. In memory of Ruthella G. Potter.
Sequim, $150. In memory of Bob E. Bern.
Port Angeles, $100.
Port Angeles, $300.
Port Angeles, $75.
Port Ludlow, $100.
Sequim, $50.
Port Angeles, $400.
Port Angeles, $200.
Sequim, $25.
