The annual campaign for Peninsula Home Fund donations begins Thursday.
This will be the 33rd year that Peninsula Daily News has collected donations to create a fund to help our neighbors when they run a little short.
North Olympic Peninsula residents in need can use the funds, which are dispersed by Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP), for those small expenses that can make all the difference in bridging a difficulty and going on with being or becoming productive members of society and improving their lives.
Generous donors gave $313,509.65 to the Peninsula Home Fund in 2021 and through Jan. 6 of this year.
This year, donations between January through October already have plumped the fund to $48,135.42.
The annual campaign always begins on Thanksgiving and 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.
“The generosity of our readers and residents on the North Olympic Peninsula is heartwarming,” said Terry R. Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News.
“The fact that every year they continue to donate their hard-earned money to give others a hand up says a lot about the character of our neighbors.”
No money will be deducted by the Peninsula Daily News for administration fees or any other overhead. Every penny will go to OlyCAP, which will take 12.5 percent to assist with administrative costs.
During this season’s campaign, the PDN will list contributors and report how the fund works.
OlyCAP has a cap of $500 for those who need a one-time infusion of funds.
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. It creates a safety net for Peninsula residents when there is nowhere else to turn.
Twenty percent of last year’s donations went to help families afford fuel for work, medical and education purposes. Thirteen percent were used for families to use laundry facilities; 10 percent bought groceries; and 8 percent went to adult work clothing and work tools, 7 percent to rental assistance (including eviction prevention) and 6 percent to utility assistance.
The remainder of funds were used for children’s clothing, public transportation costs and camping equipment (for the houseless).
The Peninsula Home Fund is a unique nonprofit program:
• The Home Fund is not a welfare program.
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.
All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through a crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency.
Home Fund case managers often work with each individual or family to develop a plan to become financially stable — and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
As needed, Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
• Your personal information is kept confidential.
PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone or make any other use of it.
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.
Physical offices remain closed to the public due to COVID-19 health concerns, but services are available.
Cherish Cronmiller, OlyCAP’s executive director, oversees disbursements from the Peninsula Home Fund.
How to donate
To donate, write a check to “Peninsula Home Fund” and attach it to the coupon that appears in today’s PDN. You can also find the coupon online on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PenDailyNews. The image can be saved and printed out from there.
Mail both items to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
You can also contribute online using a credit card. Just go to olycap.org/donations.
From children’s pennies to checks for thousands of dollars, the generosity of Peninsula Daily News readers makes a positive difference.
If you have any questions about the fund, call Publisher Terry R. Ward at 360-417-3500.
Here is a list of donors to the fund so far.
NAME ONLY
• Sally Ellefson, Port Angeles.
• Bahai’s of Clallam County East, Carlsborg.
• Lynn C. and Jenifer A. Taylor, Port Townsend.
• Gene and Lois Brown, Sequim. In memory of Greg Brown.
• Rosalyn Young, Sequim. In memory of Floyd Young and David Young.
• Betsy Reed Schultz, Port Angeles.
• Jack Ramberg, Port Angeles. In memory of Cliff and Dorothy Aden, and Don and Dorothy Goralski.
• Jack Ramberg, Port Angeles. In memory of Jack and Gertrude Atkinson and Sandra (Atkinson) Hart.
• Michael F. Turner, Port Townsend.
• Mike Donahoe, Sequim.
• Janet Cattano, Sequim.
• Ken Strain, Port Angeles. In honor of our Father.
• B. and D. Morrow, Port Angeles. In memory of Pat Morrow.
• Ron and Phyllis Stecker, Sequim.
• David and Sharon Shortess, Port Angeles.
• Irene Smith and Richard Jenson, Sequim. In memory of Butch, Michael and Florance Hoare.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Ann Burland, Sequim.
• Darlene Lemon, Sequim.
• Barry Burnett, Port Angeles.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Grace’s Bounty Fund.
• Jennifer Brodie, Sequim.
• Steven Cunningham, Sequim. In memory of Bill and Rita Cunningham.
• Bill Davies, Port Townsend.
• Ruth Macy, Sequim. In memory of Ursel Macy.
• Lynne Brandl and Michael Barrett, Sequim. In memory of Brenda Pryor.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Robert A. Kuhn, Port Angeles.
• Olympic Springs, Sequim.
• Serena G. Mulchreest, Port Angeles.
• Jim’s Cares, Joe Cammack and the Jim’s Pharmacy Crew, Port Angeles.
• Wesley L. Goecker, Port Angeles.
• Margaret Wallace, Sequim.
• Mark Meythaler.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Brad Methner, Mount Vernon.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Ann Burland.
• Clifford Stanfield.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Wilder Toyota, Port Angeles. In memory of Bobby Simpson.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Frances L. Wylie, Port Townsend.
• Jim Hoare and Margaret Womack, Port Angeles. In memory of Roberta “Bobbie” Simpson.
• Queen of Angels Parish, Port Angeles.
• Olympic Springs, Sequim.
• Barbara Noble and Joe Floyd.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Roger and Judy Wagner, Port Angeles.
• Xi Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Port Angeles.
• Donald Naddy Fund.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Brant Buchika, Punta Gorda, Fla.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Bruce Domazlicky, Sequim.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Mount Pleasant Homemakers Club, Port Angeles.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Joseph Cammack, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Shonda B. Ridgely, Sequim
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Alan and Michelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster, Port Townsend. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Danette Grady and Danielle McLaughlin.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles.
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles.
• Kenneth A. Malidore.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Patrick Plaster. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• Patrick Plaster. In memory of Della and Duane Plaster.
• William L. Brigden
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles
• Kenneth Malidore
• Kenneth Malidore
• Stephenie Bennett, Port Angeles
• Stephanie Hilt, Port Angeles
• James Emery, Port Angeles
• Joseph L. Price, Sequim
• Candice J, Lohneis, Beaver
NAME AND AMOUNT
• Steve Moore and Gigi Callaizakis, Port Townsend, $1,500. In memory of Clyde and Betty, Gus and Marie, and Jane.
• The Downing Family, Port Townsend, $300. In memory of Louise Vorbeck.
Jeff K. Shamp, Port Angeles, $300.
• Fred W. Sullivan, Port Angeles, $100.
ANONYMOUS
• Port Angeles, $150.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $500.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $300.
• Port Townsend, $500.
• Port Angeles, $250.
• Sequim, $100.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Sequim, $500.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Sequim, $500. For those who have less than I.
• Sequim, $100.
• Port Angeles, $20,000.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Sequim, $1,000.
• Aberdeen, $25.
• Port Angeles, $100.
• Port Angeles, $250.
• Aberdeen, $25
