He had beat drug addiction but he had nothing for a fresh start. Vouchers fueled by the Peninsula Home Fund and distributed by Olympic Community Action Programs helped the Port Hadlock man get back on his feet.
“Getting started from scratch is tough when you don’t have anything to start with,” said James Kingsland, 46. “I had absolutely nothing.”
Kingsland returned to the North Olympic Peninsula about five months ago, clean and sober but without the wherewithal to get a toe-hold in supporting himself.
Four months ago, he received vouchers for work clothes, boots and tools and a gas voucher to help him get to work and has remained employed in construction ever since.
“I’ve been able to continue working because of the help,” he said.
“The funding made available to me made it possible for me to continue my recovery in a low time of need, ” he added, saying that he has been clean of drugs for nearly three years..
Kingsland is an example of a person helped by his neighbors. North Olympic Peninsula residents donate to the Peninsula Home Fund. That money is then donated to Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) which uses it to help people living in Clallam and Jefferson counties who are trying hard to make ends meet but have come up short.
“It allowed me to move forward without feeling like I was just lost,” Kingsland said.
”I appreciate OlyCAP, I appreciate the fact that (the Home Fund) was there.”
The Peninsula Home Fund is “hand up not a handout.” It can help people like Kingsland get back on their feet. It is also for the unexpected expense that doesn’t necessarily fit into a category. It can help bridge the gap between making it this month and going under for a family or individual who can then continue improving their lives and go on with being or becoming productive members of society.
Money is used to give families and individuals from Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim, Joyce and La Push a hand up, not a handout, to get through an emergency situation.
The donations fund needs that range from gasoline to get to work, school or medical appointments; rent or utilities; food, clothing or other shortfalls.
Generous donors have provided $65,992.55 to the Peninsula Home Fund so far this year.
As always, donors will be listed in updates published in Peninsula Daily News throughout the campaign, which ends in January.
Gifts can be listed anonymously, by name only, by name and amount, or in honor of or in the memory of another.
Funds will be dispersed by Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) to North Olympic Peninsula residents in need.
Residents can mail checks to the Peninsula Home Fund along with the coupon attached to this story. They can donate with a credit card online by clicking on the Peninsula Home Fund button on the peninsula dailynews.com homepage. (Scroll way down). Donations also can be made to the Peninsula Home Fund account at any First Fed branch.
The only money ever taken from the fund is to assist OlyCAP with administrative costs. Every penny goes to OlyCAP, which this year will take 10 percent to assist with administrative costs.
The annual campaign extends through the holiday season. All contributions are federally tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law for the year in which the check is written.
How to apply
The best way to request assistance from the Peninsula Home Fund is to fill out an online inquiry.
The “Ask for General Assistance” button at www.olycap.org will take you to the request form, or you can go directly to olycap.formstack.com/forms/general_inquiry.
If you are unable to access the internet, you may call OlyCAP offices in Port Angeles — 360-452-4726 — or Port Townsend — 360-385-2571, regardless of which county you reside in, and the front desk staff will fill it out on your behalf over the phone.
Cherish Cronmiller, OlyCAP’s executive director, oversees disbursements from the Peninsula Home Fund.
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. It creates a safety net for Peninsula residents when there is nowhere else to turn.
From children’s pennies to checks for thousands of dollars, the generosity of Peninsula Daily News readers makes a positive difference.
Donor list for week ending Dec. 6, 2023
NAME ONLY
• Leslie Campbell, Port Angeles, In memory of Michael Perdue.
• Dan and Vicki Pierson, Port Angeles.
• Barbara Baker, Sequim, In memory of Cy.
• Rosemary Freed, Sequim, In memory of Mark Lee Freed.
• Ken and Trish Gaine, Sequim.
• Rick and Wendy Oak, Port Angeles.
• Lillian Adamson, Port Angeles.
• Chris and Valerie Mohr, Sekiu.
• Homer and Karla Muto, Port Angeles.
• N.A. Bull, Carlsborg.
• Marci Thomsen, Port Angeles, In memory of Jim Thomsen.
NAME AND AMOUNT
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend, $200, In memory of Dyane Plaster.
• Dr. Roger Eichman, Nordland, $50.
• Susan Melka, Sequim, $102.53.
• David Ebert, Sequim, $102.53.
• Gary Hirschberg, Sequim, $153.55.
• David Bower, Port Angeles, $51.52, In memory of Marion, JoAnn and Nick Umbarger.
• Karen Christiansen, Sequim, $102.53.
• Raymond Bentsen, Sequim, $204.56.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles, $100.
• John and Karen Donlon, Sequim, $100.
ANONYMOUS
• Port Townsend, $100.
• Sequim, $1,600, In memory of Gail A.
• Sequim, $200.
• Port Angeles, $500.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Sequim, $500, In memory of Larry Roth.
• Port Hadlock, $100.
• Sequim, $100.
• Carlsborg, $153.55.
• Sequim, $102.53.
• Port Angeles, $50.
• Seattle, $500.
• Sequim, $102.53.
• Denver, $250.
• Port Townsend, $102.53.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Sequim, $510.65.
• Port Townsend, $200.
