PORT ANGELES — Peninsula Behavioral Health plans an online auction with a spin — everything to be auctioned on Saturday will be adventures instead of items.
“We’ve got things lined up like a helicopter flight, guided hikes and fishing trips, private party venues and oodles more,” said Rebekah Miller, development director for Peninsula Behavioral Health (PBH).
“If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we want more time and memories with family and friends, and we’re going to help make that happen, and at the same time, bidders can support a local nonprofit,” Miller said.
The virtual fundraiser will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Free registration is open now, and bidding for the silent auction items is now open.
To register, go to pbh.cbo.io to register or visit www.peninsulabehavioral.org.
The online auction replaces PBH’s traditional annual gala. Last year, PBH had to cancel the gala because of COVID-19 health concerns. It would have featured Stephanie Land, author of “Maid,” which was made into the hit series playing on Netflix now.
“We’re scheduling Ms. Land for the 2022 gala that will be held in the spring,” Miller said.
PBH serves more than 3,000 Clallam County residents in a typical year, and the agency has more than 150 employees with openings for 20 more.
“There has been a marked uptick in the request for services this year,” said Wendy Sisk, PBH chief executive officer.
“People are really struggling, and we’re doing everything that we can to meet the community’s needs.”
PBH just purchased a 7,400-square-foot office building in Sequim to allow expanded services there.
It also has purchased the All View Motel, with help from Clallam County and City of Port Angeles, to convert into permanent supportive housing for clients.
“It has been an extraordinarily challenging year, and we’re asking for the community’s extraordinary support to help us with our residential program and for underinsured clients,” Sisk said.
About one in five clients need financial assistance that PBH could not afford to underwrite if not for private contributions and grants such as those from Clallam County’s Hargrove Fund, named for former state legislator Jim Hargrove, that provides 1/10th of 1 percent sales tax for substance abuse, mental health and therapeutic court programs.
