SEQUIM — The founder of the Captain Joseph House Foundation recently thanked representatives of the Black Bear Diner in Sequim with a sign for customers’ fourth year making an annual donation.

Throughout 2020, diner customers donated nearly $4,000 by rounding up their bills or donating at the cash register to the foundation. Captain Joseph House provides a respite/retreat to the historic Port Angeles home for military families who have lost a loved one while in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces or died as a direct result of injuries sustained during this same combat service after Sept. 11, 2001.

The foundation honors the memory of Capt. Joseph William Schultz, a U.S. Army Green Beret detachment commander who died in an IED attack in Afghanistan in 2011.

“I want to extend a big thank you to all the customers,” foundation executive director Betsy Reed Schultz said. “It shows every little bit helps.”

She said staff have been great about educating people on the foundation and that Bret Wirta is one of the most supportive business owners in the community.

Schultz said ongoing funds support bringing people to the operation, food, recreation and other expenses for families.

So far, 30,000 volunteer hours have gone toward the foundation’s efforts, including events since June 2013, she said.

Various fundraisers occur through the year, including the Last Honky Tonk Music Series on July 16 at the Port Angeles Performing Arts Center.

Captain Joseph House Foundation, 1108 S. Oak St., can be found online at CaptainJosephHouseFoundation.org and Facebook.com/Captain JosephHouse.

Reach Schultz to volunteer at 360-460-7848 or cptjosephhouse@cjhf.org.

Black Bear Diner is at 1471 E. Washington St., at 360-504-2950 and blackbeardiner.com/location/sequim.