Donations to the COVID-19 Relief Fund from across the North Olympic Peninsula have allowed Olympic Community Action Programs to disperse more than $186,000 to people hurt economically by virus precautions.
OlyCAP caseworkers have issued 480 grants to residents of Clallam and Jefferson counties out of $186,073.91 total, for an average of $421.79 per service, said Audrey Morford, OlyCAP executive assistant.
The top assistance request continues to be for rental assistance, followed by energy/utility assistance.
Rental assistance is by far the greatest need that has been served by the North Olympic Peninsula COVID-19 Relief Fund since generous donors began giving to it in March.
As of Wednesday, the fund had acquired a total of $330,797 from generous donors.
The Peninsula Daily News and OlyCAP converted the Peninsula Home Fund into the COVID-19 Relief Fund in March to create a way for neighbors to help each other through the economic repercussions of the response to the unique coronavirus pandemic.
Although some restrictions in precautions have been lifted, the disease continues to spread. The rate of new deaths has decreased, thankfully, but the number of deaths in the U.S. since March is over 146,000.
None have been reported on the Peninsula.
But the number of confirmed cases surpassed 4 million nationwide last week, and Clallam and Jefferson counties saw a bump in confirmed cases following Fourth of July parties.
Gov. Jay Inslee has announced he will extend the ban on rental evictions past the present deadline of Aug. 1, but another deadline looms for many.
Federal stimulus checks of $600 per week are to end on Thursday. Many are still out of work or on short hours.
OlyCAP is not limiting clients to one-time-only help, as it has done in the past, Morford has said.
All the money in the fund is from you who give out of your pockets to help your neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic.
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 and amount
- Lynda and Jim Larison, Sequim, $100.
- Mosaic Learning Systems Inc., Port Angeles, $200. In honor of families with a child with a disability.
Name only
- Hugh Binley, Port Angeles.
- Steve and Linda Bailey, Carlsborg.
- Christine M. Miner, Sequim.
- Richard and Karen Grennan, Sequim. In honor of our family members and friends who are doctors, nurses and teachers.
- Phillis Elliott, Port Angeles. In memory of Lizbeth Jardine.
- Jill Blake, Sequim.
- Carl Miller, Port Ludlow.
- Margaret Platt, Port Angeles.
- Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.
- Elsa Laresser, Sequim.
- JoAnne Hughes, Port Angeles.
- Philomena Lee, Sequim. In loving memory of David Lee.
- Jim and Carol Dries, Sequim.
- Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
- Cindy MacKay, Sequim.
- Janis Kitzis, Port Angeles.
- Kris Bridge, Sequim.
- Gail Hall, Port Angeles.
- Victoria Wasinski, Box Elder, S.D.
- Paul and Donna Downes, Port Angeles.
- Shannan Boss, Sequim.
Anonymous
- Port Angeles, $150.
- Port Townsend, $500.
- Sequim, $1,000.
- Port Angeles, $200.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Townsend, $100.
- Port Townsend, $100.
- Sequim, $250.
- Sequim, $100.
- Port Angeles, $80.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $100.
