It’s been amazing response.
Generous donors have given $374,551 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help their neighbors survive the economic hardships caused by precautions against the pandemic.
That has enabled Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) case workers to provide 307 people in Clallam and Jefferson counties an average of $866 each to help them make ends meet and maintain housing, jobs and utilities.
Thank you.
So far, OlyCAP has distributed $265,911.62 and that work will continue despite the ending of the active campaign for donations.
Donations will continue to be welcomed, even though the a status report and list of donors will not be published after today.
“We will continue to set aside emergency funds for clients impacted by COVID-19 who may not qualify for one of our county, state or federal programs,” said Cherish L. Cronmiller, OlyCAP executive director.
The Peninsula Daily News and OlyCAP converted the Peninsula Home Fund into the COVID-19 Relief Fund as the impacts of the unique coronavirus pandemic began to be felt in the spring.
“On behalf of the Board, the staff and the customers of OlyCAP, we want to express our gratitude to the Peninsula Daily News for taking the initiative to help collect donations for the people in our community impacted by COVID-19,” Cronmiller said.
“OlyCAP was humbled to be given the responsibility of being a good steward of these funds while carrying out the task of quickly serving those struggling on the Peninsula.”
OlyCAP is not limiting clients to one-time-only help, as it has done in the past. Case workers often are able to leverage funds into greater benefits by pairing them with other programs.
“We helped households who have never before needed the help of a social service agency,” Cronmiller said in written remarks.
”We had clients reach out and wonder whether they would qualify for our services and with these donations it was a privilege to be able to help any household that could demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 on their income.”
Cronmiller said the agency received letters from employers detailing the layoffs, furloughs and workforce reductions as they had to close or reduce hours after Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-home restrictions to stem the spread of the unique coronavirus, a virus never seen before and the effects of which are still being revealed.
“Despite eviction moratoriums, we still heard from small landlords who needed to pay the mortgage on an investment property, or cover the cost of their own housing, while simultaneously empathizing with their renters that were out of work,” Cronmiller said.
”The donations that went out in this community made an impact on reducing the fears and anxieties of people worried about losing their homes.”
The OlyCAP executive director said that staff members had even met clients in parking lots to give them grocery cards and emergency food boxes.
“As months have dragged on, we have heard from clients who have run out of their savings, and started to pay bills on credit cards,” Cronmiller said.
“Your donations allowed us to help with those bills and make sure that families don’t go without electric, propane, water and trash services.”
The largest category of grants so far has been rental assistance — 206,343 — with the second-largest begin energy — $33913.
Other categories of assistance have included mortgage, groceries, utility bills, and internet funds.
“Our hope is that everyone sees more than just numbers here, that it could be your neighbor, your favorite hairdresser, or your regular server who was helped by your donation,” Cronmiller said.
“A child is going to school online thanks to your donation that allowed us to pay an internet bill for a few months. Someone you may know is able to sleep just a little better tonight knowing that their rent or mortgage is paid, they have phone minutes available, or hot water thanks to your donation,” she added.
“The agency has been receiving a lot of calls in the past two weeks, and staff is working hard at returning the calls, emails and requests for assistance.”
There is no way to thank you enough. But at least we can let others know what you did.
Here is a list of the donations given to the COVID-19 Relief Fund during the past two weeks.
Name only
Toni Randall, Port Angeles.
Greg and Vicki Sensiba, Sequim. In honor of Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Olympic Electric Co. Inc., Port Angeles. In honor of Henry and Jane Burkhardt.
Nick and Sandy Larson, Port Angeles. In honor of Sharron Currie’s family.
Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Duane Plaster.
Kathleen Balducci and family, Port Angeles. In memory of Paul Martin.
Olympic Springs, Sequim.
Darryl and Joan Walker, Sequim.
Barbara Comer, Port Angeles.
Carol McRae, Sequim. In memory of Bernard McRae.
Sue and John Miles, Port Angeles.
Joe Floyd and Barbara Noble, Sequim.
Norma Wiggins, Port Angeles. In memory of Dora Anton, my friend.
Andrew Poultridge, Port Angeles.
K. M. Jellicoe Pressley, Port Angeles. Thanks to Mark S., Doug and splitting crew.
Karla Strutzel, Sequim.
Landin Boring, Port Townsend.
Terry Baxter, Sequim.
Roberta Solomon, Port Angeles.
Anonymous
Sequim, $100.
$650.
Port Townsend, $100.
Sequim, $100.
Sequim, $200.
Port Angeles, $500.
Chimacum, $100. In memory of Broc Mortenson.
Port Angeles, $30.
Port Angeles, $100.
Port Angeles, $100.
Port Angeles, $200.
Port Angeles, $500.
Port Angeles, $100.
