By Tim Hockett For Peninsula Daily News
EDITOR’S NOTE: For 20 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout”Peninsula Home Fund.
Today we feature the first in a series of articles on how the fund operates and who benefits from our readers’ generosity.
The next article will appear Wednesday.
PORT ANGELES — Most of us take for granted the ability to go for a walk.
Not Jeanne Hennager.
Born with spina bifida, a developmental birth defect, she is reminded every day of her limitations.
Her condition has compromised her ability to walk more than a few steps before tiring.
While she had become accustomed to living with her disability and being able to take only a few, slow walks, a potential solution for her came last May in the wake of her grandmother’s death — she inherited a motorized chair, a “scooter.”
“It was well used when I got it, but it was so nice to be able to go out  — trouble was the batteries were so weak I could only go a couple of blocks and then only to a place where I could plug it in,” she said.
Hennager and her husband live in an apartment on the west side of downtown Port Angeles.
She has disability income, and her husband works at a restaurant on the east side of town, two miles away.
They make do with their three little Chihuahuas, which they have lovingly rescued.
“I began to look into the cost of replacing the batteries, but got frustrated when I found out how much they cost,” Jeanne said. “Then a friend mentioned OlyCAP.”
Home Fund applicants
OlyCAP is nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
It also screens the applicants for the Peninsula Daily News’ “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund and distributes the funds.
Jeanne made the trip to the OlyCAP office and met Lynn Fox, one of OlyCAP’s emergency service volunteers.
“Lynn thought she could help with about $100 from the Peninsula Home Fund.
“She called Jim’s Pharmacy, and they were able to give a discounted price on the batteries; that got the price down to $124 [which the Home Fund could cover].
“The new batteries are so strong I can go all the way down to my husband’s work and back on a single charge.
“In the past, when my husband and I would try to walk somewhere, I would have to play ‘catch-up.’ Now he has to catch up to me on my scooter.”
“I love this town. This is the only time I have needed help, and they helped me without making me feel bad.”
And, she added: “I have my freedom again!”
Fund a lifeline
Through the generosity of your donations to the Peninsula Home Fund and the additional help from Jim’s Pharmacy, Jeanne has been given a hand up and the community has been made a little stronger — and a little more mobile.
Peninsula Home Fund provides a unique lifeline on the North Olympic Peninsula.
All the money collected for the Home Fund goes — without any deductions — for hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for kids, home repairs for the low income, needed eyeglasses and prescription drugs, dental work, safe, drug-free temporary housing . . .
The list goes on and on — from Jan. 1 through Nov. 23 this year, the Home Fund had helped more than 1,780 families — about 3,500 individuals — in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
On that list is Jeanne Hennager.
No deductions — a ‘hand-up’
From Thanksgiving through Dec. 31, the PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund — a safety net for residents in Jefferson and Clallam counties when there is nowhere else to turn — is seeking contributions for its annual holiday season fund-raising campaign.
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to LaPush, it’s a “hand up, not a handout” for children, teens, families and the elderly.
• No money is deducted for administration or other overhead.
Your entire donation — 100 percent, every penny — goes to help those who are facing times of crisis.
• All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
• Your personal information is kept confidential.
Peninsula Daily News does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of the information.
• Instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through the crisis — and every effort is made to put them back on the path to self-sufficiency.
That’s the “hand up, not a handout” focus of the fund.
In many instances, Peninsula Home Fund case managers at OlyCAP work with individuals or families to develop a plan to become financially stable — and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
Spent by Dec. 31
• Begun in 1989, the fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
Individuals, couples, businesses, churches, service organizations and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2008 — $198,015.03.
With heavy demand this year, the carefully rationed fund is being rapidly depleted.
All the money collected in 2008 is expected to be spent before Dec. 31.
• Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from other agencies, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
• Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually up to $150.
• Assistance is limited to one time in a 12-month period.
Applying for a grant
To apply for a grant from the fund, phone OlyCAP at 360-452-4726 (Clallam County) or 360-385-2571 (Jefferson County).
If you have any questions about the fund, contact John Brewer, Peninsula Daily News editor and publisher, at 360-417-3500.
Or e-mail him at john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com.
Peninsula Daily News publishes stories every Sunday and Wednesday during the fund-raising campaign listing contributors and reporting on how the fund works.
Contributions so far
We’ve gotten a running start on this year’s holiday season fundraising campaign.
A number of generous individuals and organizations have been donating money to the Peninsula Home Fund since the first of the year.
While most of the money is raised between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, the fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
Here is a list of donors whose contributions were received between last Jan.1 and Nov. 25 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors like Jeanne Hennager.
• John W. Warrick and Ruth Jenkins, Port Angeles — $120.
• Rick and Georgellen Haberman, Forks — $100. In memory of Janet and Cassidy Hunter.
• Gary R. Sieber, Port Hadlock — $300.
In honor of Donald Krone. I miss your laughter and your smiles, old friend. — Rusty.
• Mount Pleasant Homemakers, Port Angeles — $100.
• Venture Club of P.A. Jet-Set, Port Angeles — $250. To help with those less fortunate families in need.
• Milo and Terri Walker, Port Angeles — $100. In memory of Elmer Rarity.
• The Birthday Lunch Bunch, Port Angeles — $50.
• William L. Plumley and Mark O. Downing, Forks — $100.
• John Brewer. Port Angeles — $125. In memory of Henry Acevedo, a true gentleman and a fine editor.
• A benefit show by The Reincarnations of Rock & Roll, a Port Townsend-based group, for the Peninsula Home Fund at 7 Cedar Casion on Sept. 6 raised $1,760.
Our sincere thanks to “Elvis” (James Reynolds of Brinnon); “Janis Joplin” (Kendra, Reynolds’ wife); Raven, a Port Townsend musician, showman and actor who recreated Buddy Holly; Roger Olsen, who recreated Stevie Ray Vaughan; Dale Hubbard, DJ at KMAS 1030 AM radio in Shelton; and the 7 Cedars staff and management.
• Alaska Invitational Golf Tournament — an 18-hole, two-person best ball team event organized by Bill Engle of Sequim open to anyone with connections to Alaska — was held at the SunLand Golf and Country Club in Sequim on May 2. It raised $1.925.
This was the ninth year in a row that the tournament has raised money for the Peninsula Home Fund.
Its sponsors were:
• Alaska Architectural Lighting, Anchorage.
• Clark Land Office, Sequim.
• William and Patty Engle, Sequim.
• D. Jean Ernst, Sequim.
• First Federal, Sequim.
• Michael Murphy, Merrill Lynch, Anchorage.
• Edward and Ruth Jones, Sequim.
• 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn.
• Robert and Thelma Sinnett, Sequim.
• Wes and Janean Stoecker, Sequim.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested that the amount of their donation be kept private):
• Angelo and Brenda Spandrio, Sequim and Ojai, Calif.
• Olympic Springs, Inc., Carlsborg.
• Wes Ringius, Port Angeles. In honor of Emily Ringius.
• Mrs. Patti Dutro Forsberg, Port Angeles. In memory of my late husband, Dr. Eugene Dutro, DDS. (By request, this Home Fund donation assigned to dental work).
• Dan and Esther Darrow, Port Ludlow.
• Linda and Gary Snow, Carlsborg.
• Chuck and Karen Russell. Port Hadlock. In memory of two generous, kind people — Irene and Claud Wilcox.
Anne G. Dalton, Port Angeles.
• Port Townsend School of Massage, Port Townsend.
• Bonnie Hawkins, Aliso Viejo, CA. This small donation is in loving memory of my dear friend Janis Tucker who died in a vehicular accident on Dec. 13, 2008, in Port Angeles.
• Mel and Helen Williams, Port Townsend. In memory of Jerry Lindsey.
• Mel and Helen Williams, Port Townsend. In memory of Karen Cays.
• Laurel Burton, Port Angeles.
• David and Kimberly Hightower, Seattle. Donation made as a gift to our parents, Ken Gilbertson and Cathy Lear [of Port Angeles]. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
• Bul-Lois Thomas, Sequim.
• Christine Hemp and Ole Kanestrom, Port Townsend. In honor of Mary Hemp.
• Edward and Delores Boyle, Sequim. In memory of our son, John Boyle.
• Iyone Trivich, Port Angeles.
• James and Lucy Kittrick, Port Angeles.
• Angela Regan, Sequim.
• Rupa Snowden, Sequim.
• Pamela Flettre, Sequim.
• Shira Zerner, Scottsdale, Ariz. In memory of Janice Tucker.
• Eugene and June Haugen, Sequim.
• Park View Villas Residents, Port Angeles.
• Judy Ware, Port Angeles.
• Hannah Russell, Port Townsend.
• Carrie Weisse, Mukilteo.
• Gerald and Diana Estberg, Port Angeles.
• Joe Twogood, Port Angeles.
• Dorothy West, Sequim. In memory of Earl M. West
• Gene and Lourdes Takagi, San Francisco. In memory of Janice Tucker.
• David Wood, Sequim.
• Estes Builders, Sequim. Awarded from Estes Builders as part of our annual contributions to our community.
• Linda Beasler, Port Angeles. In memory of Bernie Abbott.
• Linda Beasler, Darcy Beasler and Kathy McFarland, Port Angeles. In memory of Bill Winter.
• DZ and MZ, Port Angeles.
• Linda M. Scott, Port Townsend.
• Ernest W. Sauerland, Port Townsend.
• ASM Audio Enterprises, Ojai, Calif.
• Ed and Beatrice Temple, Sequim. Thank you for the good work you do. God bless!
• Leslye Stewart, Forks. In memory of Dennis Bingham.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested anonymity):
• Chimacum — $100.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Angeles — $100. In memory of our parents.
• Sequim — $50.
• No city listed — $500. In honor of Anna Gorman.
• Port Angeles — $200.
• Port Angeles — $50. In honor of the lady who lost a $50 bill. You lost it. I found it. The Home Fund got it.
• Sequim — $20.
• Sequim — $20.
• Port Angeles — $10.
• Port Angeles — $1,000. In honor of the Olymic Peninsula Dental Society.
• Sequim — $30.
• Sequim — $100. In memory of Judy Sutherland.
• Sequim — $25.
• Port Angeles — $15.
• Port Angeles — $20.
• Port Angeles — $25.
• Sequim — $250. In honor of the Order of Malta.
• Mino City, Japan — $100.
• Sequim — $750.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Forks — $550.
• Port Angeles — $25. Pay It Forward.
• Port Angeles — $1,000.
• Clallam Bay — $25.
• Sequim — $200.
• Sequim — $60.39. Donation made possible by sales done at the Community Christmas Shoppe sponsored by Special Needs Advocacy Parents (SNAP).
• Sequim — $59.56. Special thanks to Vision Nursery and Special Needs Advocacy Parents (SNAP) for providing an outlet for the sales of charitable art.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Angeles — $3.
• Port Angeles — $200.
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HANDWRITING CAN BE hard to decipher at times.
Please report any errors in this list to John Brewer, 360-417-3500 (there’s voice mail if he’s away) — or e-mail him at john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com.
We’ll rerun the listing correctly.
Our sincerest appreciation again to our donors.
