PORT TOWNSEND — The Boiler Room is hosting a small fundraiser today to raise money for a larger one.
“The Boiler Room operates on such a shoestring budget, and we have never done any large-scale fundraising,” said Amy Smith, executive director of the volunteer-operated coffeehouse and social services hub at 711 Water St.
“Putting on a gala takes money that we don’t have, so we are holding an underwriting party.”
The Burger Beach Benefit will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Pourhouse, 2231 Washington St. While the Boiler Room is an all-ages facility, tonight’s event is restricted to those 21 and older.
The goal is to raise $4,000 that will be used to sponsor an auction fundraiser at 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Manresa Castle, 651 Cleveland St.
Proceeds from the November fundraiser, which will have the theme of “Storming the Castle,” will go to support current and future Boiler Room programs, Smith said.
The accepted rule of fundraising events is that they cost 10 percent of the total goal, so a $40,000 total gives the facility a $36,000 net amount for programs, Smith said.
Many fundraising entities budget the cost of the event into the total amount and have that amount in the bank, but the Boiler Room, which has limited cash flow, can’t operate that way, Smith said.
The two-tiered fundraising is an effort at transparency, she said.
“We want to tell people exactly where their money is going,” she said.
“What we raise here won’t go to programs but will support the ability to raise the money that will be used for those programs.”
Smith doesn’t expect a radical change in program offerings, which are directed at youths but open to all ages.
One new program, “How to Be an Adult,” is scheduled for January.
Attendees will learn how to balance a checkbook, change tires, create a budget and other skills they need that may have been forgotten or never taught to them.
“This will help people understand things they didn’t bother to learn in the first place,” Smith said.
“This can happen for a whole variety of reasons. Some people don’t come from supportive homes, while in others, the parents did everything for their children, so they didn’t learn anything on their own,” she said.
Cooking skills are also important. The Boiler Room serves 250 meals a week, with some of them given away so people can cook them at home.
“People come in and say they were sent here because they just got to town or their food stamps haven’t come in yet,” Smith said.
“We feed them with anything that we have on hand at that particular moment.”
The 22-year-old Boiler Room has provided a local destination for youths, whether they are troubled and drug-addicted or just want a positive place to hang out.
Smith said the facility has 72 volunteers, with about 30 of them active.
She is always looking for new volunteers, especially those who are willing to teach short seminars about specific life skills.
Smith is facing Paul S. Rice in the Nov. 3 general election for Port Townsend City Council Position 6.
For more information about the Nov. 7 gala or to contribute or volunteer, email boilerroomed@gmail.com.
For more information about the Boiler Room, call 360-379-8247.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
