W. Ron Allen, the chair and CEO of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, has contributed to the Peninsula Home Fund for more than a decade.
“The community needs to help those who are in need of help, and we’re in a position to contribute to a fund for a good cause, to put a roof over somebody’s head,” Allen said Friday. “That works for us.”
The Home Fund, now in its 35th year, is conducting a fundraising campaign through the holiday season to provide an avenue for neighbors to help neighbors on the North Olympic Peninsula. It focuses on giving residents the opportunity to help those in need with a “hand up, not a handout.”
For Allen, who contributes to many causes, the Home Fund is one of the best ways to help.
“It’s a good fund and it’s a good cause,” he said. “It’s shown to be well-managed for its purpose.”
Since 1989, the Home Fund has raised more than $4.93 million to help those in need in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Last year, $180,202 was contributed through the holiday season.
Donations, along with the names of the donors, should they elect to have them published, are presented in the Peninsula Daily News throughout the campaign.
“We do have resources to contribute to a good cause, and this is one of the best ones,” Allen said. “People are in need of basic food and nutrients.
“For me and my wife, there’s nothing more important than shelter, a home, a roof,” Allen said. “It’s an easy contribution.”
The past few months, a committee upgraded the process for distributing the funds while keeping firmly in place the core value of neighbor helping neighbor.
Under the new system, a committee will announce after the start of the new year that grants are available for nonprofits that serve Clallam and Jefferson counties. Olympic View Community Foundation, a longstanding 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will oversee the awarding of the grants.
Through good times and bad, the generosity and compassion of Peninsula residents has remained constant. Some donate throughout the year while others provide one donation during the campaign months.
From children’s pennies to checks for thousands of dollars, each donation makes a difference, helping people from Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim, Port Angeles, Joyce and La Push.
All contributions are fully federally tax-deductible for the year in which the check is written.
Those who wish to donate can mail checks to Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA, 98362, or to Olympic View Community Foundation, P.O. Box 3651, Sequim, WA, 98382. An online option is available at https://ov-cf.org/peninsula-home-fund-donation.
All are invited to participate in this tradition of giving, one unique to the Peninsula. Many donors have given for years, and we thank them for their generosity. It makes a difference for our community.
“I just have a lot of faith in it,” Allen said. “I always like reading about all of the many people who contribute. That kind of outreach often touches people and causes them to dip a little deeper for these kinds of good causes.”
The following is a donor list for the week ending Dec. 11:
Name and amount
• Umbarger Family, $25.75, in memory of Marion, JoAnn and Nick Umbarger.
• Cindy Johnson, Michael Turner, Port Townsend, $100.
• Dr. John and Jeanne Skow, Port Angeles, $1,000.
• Steven McCreary, Port Townsend, $250.
• Robert Zech, Port Angeles, $350.
Name only
• Gloria and Steve Ricketts, Port Hadlock.
• Roger and Maura Oakes, Port Angeles.
• William and Karen Bloemker, Port Townsend.
• Eldora Pederson, Port Angeles.
• Robert and Susan Erzen, Sequim.
• Sam and Martha Baker, Port Angeles.
• Del and Kris Cadwallader, Port Angeles, in memory of our brother, Pete Jacobson, our fur baby, Loca and her mommy, Mimi. In honor of our military and veterans. Thank you!
• Bill and Nancy O’Brien, Sequim.
• Fred and Carol Royce, Port Angeles.
• Ann Bigler, Sequim, in memory of Riley Bigler.
• Pauline Gepner, Port Angeles, in memory of John Gepner.
• Ann Chang, Port Angeles, in honor of my family.
• June Echternkamp, Carlsborg, for Jerry Echternkamp and son, Jerry.
• Barry and Ellen Lerich, Nordland.
• Ed and Phyllis Hopfner, Port Angeles.
• Marci Thomsen, Port Angeles, in memory of Jim Thomsen.
• Penny Ervin, Port Angeles, in memory of Dale and Carole Cudd.
• Ross and Vee Canning, Port Angeles.
• Verna Edwards, Port Angeles, for Bob Edwards, Donnie Edwards.
• Denise and John Kane, Sequim, in memory of Tammy Meyer and Ann Stuart.
• Betty Manning, Port Angeles.
• Lee Roberts, Port Angeles, in memory of Dan Roberts Sr.
• Jan Steward and Neil Burkhardt, Sequim.
Anonymous
• Port Townsend, $50, in honor of Eagle Bob.
• Port Angeles, $1,500.
• Sequim, $2,000.
• Port Angeles, $25.75.
• Port Angeles, $10.30.
• Port Angeles, $103.
• Port Angeles, $100, in memory of John T. (Jack) Chiasson.
• Port Angeles, $25.
• Sequim, $50.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $25.
• Port Angeles, $11.11.
• Sequim, $25.
• Sequim, $103.
• Port Townsend, $500.
• Port Townsend, $100.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $500.
• Sequim, $50, in honor of S. Sommer.
• Sequim, $103.
• Sequim, $500.
• Sequim, $257.50.
