People who once thought they would ever have to ask for help are finding assistance through Olympic Community Action Programs after COVID-19 precautions took their livelihoods.
They are receiving grants for rental assistance and other necessities from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, which generous donors had swelled to $271,940 through Wednesday.
Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) has been able to provide 140 households in Clallam and Jefferson counties with a total of $75,965 in assistance, said Audrey Morford, executive coordinator for (OlyCAP).
The Peninsula Daily News and Olympic Community Action Programs 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.
Requests for emergency food have slowed, Morford said.
“Food banks have had time to adjust,” she said. “Most are doing deliveries for those who are home bound.
“Some of those other systems have had time to adjust and meet needs,” she added.
Many of those seeking help now are self-employed, unable to work due to the closures and ineligible for unemployment or who have not received unemployment payments yet, she said.
Some requests are outside the usual, Morford said. Medical bills, for instance, can’t be covered by OlyCAP but other bills can be, leaving more available for medical care.
In addition, hearing from those who don’t usually call OlyCAP has allowed case managers to provide assistance with utilities through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Morford said.
The money given in this unprecedented, dire time is invaluable to those who need it.
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
- Bill and Lynnette Baughman, Sequim, $250.
- Bill and Carol Knebes, Port Angeles, $200.
- Elsie T. Oliver, Sequim, $1,200.
- Jim and Marlene Lewis, Sequim, $2,400.
- Grant and Marleen Rollins, Sequim, $100
Name only
- David and Francie Louden, Port Angeles.
- Robert A. Kuhn, Port Angeles.
- Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
- Serena G. Mylchreest, Port Angeles.
- Patricia Milliren, Port Angeles. Some of my federal stimulus money.
- Terry and Lorraine Sage, Sequim. In memory of Neil Smith.
- Eric and Christine Brown, Port Angeles.
- Felix and Joan Arena, Sequim.
- Pat Sexton, Port Angeles. In memory of Bruce Edwards.
- Mr. and Mrs. Kent Brauninger, Port Angeles.
- Diane Kenitzer, Sequim. In memory of Rolland Kenitzer.
- Carl Strunk, Port Angeles.
- David and Shirley Tarr, Port Townsend.
- Phyllis Sprinkle, Sequim.
- Rosalyn Young, Sequim. In memory of Floyd Young and David Young.
- Warren Walvatne and Chris Walvatne, Port Townsend. In memory of Bruce Edwards and Jan Wasmann.
- Jim and Darlene Lemon, Sequim.
- Stan Forsell and Arlene Krumpe, Port Angeles. In memory of Bruce Edwards.
- Bill and Joan Riedel, Sekiu. In honor of Mary Ann Koloszy, nurse.
- Carl Miller, Port Ludlow.
- Robert Blush, Sequim.
- Kateri Schmerler, Sequim.
- Charles Standley, Port Angeles.
- Carey Melmed, Port Angeles.
- Robert Walker, Port Townsend.
- Terry Dahlquist, Forks.
- William Mead, Port Angeles.
- Bob Pier, Sequim.
- Michael Gilman, Port Townsend.
- Tom Shindler, Port Angeles.
- Jim and Kaye Poindexter, Sequim.
- Tobin Standley, Port Angeles.
- Dixie Llewellin, Port Townsend.
- Jerry Fisch, Sequim.
- Dan and Wendy Shea, Port Angeles.
- Marion Wheeler Burns, Sequim. In memory of Susan Wheeler.
- Bill and Nancy Helwick, Port Angeles.
- Doug and Julie Klapstein, Port Angeles.
- Judith Sanders, Sequim. In memory of Dorothy Hesser.
- Paul Schwabe, Carlsborg.
- Mark and Sherry Meythaler, Sequim.
- Samuel Shusterman and Pat Stoner, Port Townsend. In memory of Naomi Marcus.
- Barbara Kurland, Port Townsend. In memory of Gilda Rose.
- Carol Martell, Port Angeles. In memory of Bruce Edwards.
- Bridget Kelly, Port Townsend.
- Mindi Blanchard, Sequim.
- Shannon Rapuano, Port Townsend.
- Nan Evans, Port Townsend.
- Valerie Hentzschel, Sequim.
Anonymous
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $150.
- Port Angeles, $600.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $100. In memory of Bob Dalton.
- Sequim, $100.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $50.
- Sequim, $150. In memory of Mark and Cindy Kochanek.
- Sequim, $50.
- Port Angeles, $25.
- Chimacum, $300.
- Port Townsend, $100.
- Sequim, $500.
- Port Angeles, $200.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Sequim, $450.
- Sequim, $250.
- Port Angeles, $200. In honor of Tom Sinton.
- Port Angeles, $300.
- Sequim, $1,200. In honor of kind people everywhere.
- Port Angeles, $1,000.
- Port Angeles, $100.
- Port Angeles, $10.
- Port Angeles, $100.
How to donate
COVID-19 Relief Fund grants are available through Olympic Community Action Programs.
Assistance is not limited to a specific dollar amount, although guidelines are in place for each type of need, according to Audrey Morford, executive coordinator at Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP).
To apply for a grant, see the OlyCAP website at www.olycap.org, by email at info@olycap.org or contact an OlyCAP office by telephone. OlyCAP has closed its offices to face-to-face contact but is still providing services.
• Clallam County residents can call 360-452-4726.
• Jefferson County residents can call 360-385-2571.
Leave a message in the voicemail box at either number, and a caseworker will call you back.
Donations
All donations to the Peninsula Home Fund have been converted temporarily to the COVID-19 Relief Fund and are channeled to OlyCAP specifically for those who need a little financial help because of layoffs, short hours, school closures or other reasons.
Checks must be written to the Peninsula Home Fund, but donations go to COVID-19 Relief Fund.
To donate, write a check to the Peninsula Home Fund, attach it to the coupon that appears in today’s PDN and mail both items to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Checks and coupons also can be dropped though the PDN mail slot at the office at 305 W. First St., Port Angeles.
The office is closed to walk-in traffic to protect the health of employees and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
You can also contribute online with a credit card at www.olycap.org, where a “donate to COVID-19 Relief Fund” button will direct you to the form that was for the 2019 Peninsula Home Fund.
Despite the label on the form, it will get donations to the right place to be used for virus impact relief.
Like the Peninsula Home Fund, 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 use 10 percent to help pay for services.
All contributions are federally tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law for the year in which the check is written.
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.
If you have any questions about the fund, call Publisher Terry R. Ward at 360-417-3500 or email tward@soundpublishing.com.
