As snow falls and temperatures sink on the North Olympic Peninsula, the need for help rises.
The Peninsula Home Fund is one way for neighbors to take care of neighbors who are in a bind. The money is dispersed by Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) to people who need to cover small expenses so they can get through a crisis and get back on the path to self-sufficiency.
“A lot of people really need basic things like clothing to weather the cold and fuel to get them to work,” said Anna Hannon, executive coordinator, on Tuesday.
“Of course there are also those families struggling to put food on the table, so we are able to get them grocery vouchers as well.”
Money collected now will go into the fund for use in 2023. Funds donated in 2021 are now fueling grants for requests. Generous donors gave $313,509.65 to the Peninsula Home Fund in 2021 and through Jan. 6 of this year.
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.
Not a penny of the fund is given to anyone living outside of Clallam and Jefferson counties.
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.
No money is deducted by the Peninsula Daily News for administration fees or any other overhead. All of it goes to OlyCAP, which takes 12.5 percent to assist with administrative costs.
Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. The Peninsula Home Fund creates a safety net for residents when there is nowhere else to turn.
The fund is not a welfare program. Money is used to give Peninsula residents “a hand up, not a handout” to get through emergency situations.
Personal information of donors is kept confidential. PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share addresses or other information with anyone or make any other use of it.
To request assistance from the Peninsula Home Fund, fill out an online inquiry by clicking on the “Ask for General Assistance” button at www.olycap.org or going directly to olycap.formstack.com/forms/general_inquiry; or by phoning OlyCAP offices in Port Angeles — 360-452-4726 — or Port Townsend — 360-385-2571.
Physical offices remain closed to the public due to COVID-19 health concerns, but services are available.
OlyCAP has a cap of $500 for those who need a one-time infusion of funds.
To donate, write a check to “Peninsula Home Fund” and attach it to a coupon on the PDN Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PenDailyNews. The image can be saved and printed out from there.
Mail both check and coupon to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Donors also can contribute online using a credit card at https://olycap.org/donations.
If you have any questions about the fund, call Publisher Terry R. Ward at 360-417-3500.
