EDITOR’s NOTE: – This is another in a series of articles on the Peninsula Home Fund. The next article will appear Wednesday.
PORT TOWNSEND — Jessica Coggins is used to helping others rather than asking for help.
As a student of alternative medicine, she has traveled around the world learning about healing and the arts, and completed a degree in expressive healing from Western Washington University.
She has devoted herself to identifying new ways to address the physical and emotional needs of people.
Happy in most circumstances, Coggins said that she has worked since she was 13 and has had to endure impoverishment, but recently she found herself without anywhere to turn.
And that’s where the Peninsula Daily News’ Peninsula Home Fund came to the rescue — to give her “a hand up, not a handout.”
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to LaPush, it is a safety net for residents when there is nowhere else to turn.
The Peninsula Home Fund is unique:
* Every penny, every dollar, donated goes — without any deductions for administration or other overhead — to making life better for children, teens, families and the elderly in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
* The Peninsula Home Fund is used 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 — so far about 1,400 individuals and families have received assistance from the fund in 2005 — and now includes helping Jessica and her family.
Expensive PT housing
“I had gone with my partner and three children [Conakry, 12; Allegra, 9; and Kesem, 3] from Port Townsend to Maine last February,” Jessica said.
“We were pursuing a career opportunity.
“While there, my partner underwent some difficulty that made me decide that I had to leave him and return to Port Townsend with the children.
“I was also expecting a baby.”
She traveled back across the states in a 24-foot camper in hopes that in Port Townsend, where her mother and sister also reside, she would find the support she needed to settle, have the baby and move on with her busy life.
But there was not enough room for the family — soon to have another member.
“I did not want to impose on my family, but I was also surprised to find how expensive it was to find housing in Port Townsend,” she said.
“If I had not been due to have the baby, I would have found arrangements, but I needed some help immediately.”
That’s when she contacted Bonnie White in the Port Townsend OlyCAP office.
OlyCAP — nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula — screens applicants and manages the Peninsula Home Fund for the PDN.
“When I was contacted about Jessica’s situation, I knew we had to respond quickly because her baby was due and the family was essentially homeless,” recalls White.
By means of the Peninsula Home Fund, the family was assisted with a few dollars to take care of laundry, fuel and a few other basic needs.
But just as importantly, White was able to identify an avenue of assistance so the family could find permanent, affordable housing.
“I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to have Bonnie help us,” said Jessica.
“She is amazing. She was so accepting and non-judgmental. She just saw that we needed help and then helped us.
“None of us can anticipate our circumstances. My family got into a bind and just needed a helping hand.
“The Home Fund program is so valuable for this community.”
Since her return, Jessica has given birth to a baby boy.
No deductions
From Thanksgiving through Dec. 31, the PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund is seeking contributions for its annual holiday season fund-raising campaign.
* No money is deducted for costs, administration or overhead.
* All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
* Your personal information is kept confidential.
The Peninsula Daily News does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
* All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through the crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency. That’s the “hand up, not a hand-out” focus of the fund.
* Peninsula Home Fund case managers 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.
Spent by Dec. 31
Begun in 1989, the fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
Individuals, couples, businesses and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2004 — $108,514.54.
All of that money is expected to be spent by Dec. 31.
* 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.
* Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually up to $100.
* Assistance is limited to one time in a 12-month period.
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.
How to donate
A gift of any size is welcome.
The Peninsula Home Fund has never been a campaign of heavy hitters.
If you can contribute only a few dollars, please don’t hesitate because you think it won’t make a difference.
Every gift makes a difference, regardless of its size.
To donate, write a check to “Peninsula Home Fund” and attach it to the coupon that is accessible by clicking on the icon titled “Peninsula Home Fund” to the left of this article.
Mail both items to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles 98362.
Or drop them at the newspaper’s offices in Port Townsend, Sequim or Port Angeles (addresses on page A2 of the PDN daily).
Again, all contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
You will receive a written thank you and acknowledgment of your contribution.
Peninsula Daily News publishes stories every Wednesday and Sunday during the fund-raising campaign listing contributors and reporting on how the fund works.
Contributions so far
The following are contributions received between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors:
* Thomas Santos, Sequim, $20 — In memory of Zita Santos.
* Joan and Richard Sargent, Port Angeles, $100 — In memory of Paula Sargent.
* Tom Coville, Port Angeles, $30.
* Marie B. Nelson, Sequim, $500.
* Carroll and Eleanor Reid, Port Angeles, $25.
* David Martin, Sequim, $200.
* Howard Gipson, Port Angeles, $100.
* Diamond Divide Ranch Inc., Port Angeles, $250
* Robert and Ruth Worley, Port Angeles, $1,000.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested that the amount of their donation be kept private):
* Curt and Lesa Oppelt, Port Angeles — In memory of Laurel N. Oppelt.
* Pat Vautier, Port Angeles — In memory of Dan Vautier.
* Ellen and Ted Tsoneff, Port Angeles — In memory of Charles Zeh.
* Ann Chang, Port Angeles — In honor of my family.
* Al and Jane Bloomquist, Port Angeles — In memory of Sue Lea.
* Jean and Erv Lodeen, Port Angeles — In memory of Ken Eikum.
* Grace Wanrow, Sequim — In memory of Michael Wanrow.
* Jim and Marci Thomsen, Port Angeles — In memory of Marty Konopaski.
* Rita Marston, Port Angeles — In memory of Don Marston.
* Paul Blake, Sekiu — In memory of Willard Arntz.
* Edmund A. Hinke, Port Angeles — In honor of Betty Troxel.
* David and Ann Salmon, Sequim — In memory of Ralph Leon and Ethel Salmon.
* Frank Trostle, Port Angeles — In memory of brother Verne Trostle.
* Maxine C. Hazen, Sequim — In memory of John J. Hallas.
* Jerry Andrew, Port Angeles — In memory of Cleta Andrew.
* Betty Abbott, Port Angeles — In memory of E. Evans and Pat Mason.
* William A. Smith, Sequim — In memory of Georgia Harold Smith for 60 wonderful years of married life.
* Merle Crawford, Port Angeles — In memory of George Crawford.
* Thelma Helgeson, Port Angeles — In memory of Archie Helgeson.
* Bob and Peggy Forton, Sequim — In memory of Mark.
* Judith A. Lindberg, Port Angeles — This gift is given in the memory of my dad, my hero — Marvin J. Lindberg — a man who was Santa Claus all year long.
* Eve Armstrong, Sequim — My donation, as always, is in memory of my beloved husband, Don Armstrong, deceased in January 2000. I am approaching my 81st birthday Dec. 31. I pray that I will find my husband when I leave life, as we know it, and it is behind me.
* Robert and Grace Redding, Sequim — In memory of Richard Osborne.
* Jan McIlroy, Sequim.
* Bob and Eme Clark, Sequim.
* Doris L. Cromwell, Sequim.
* Dana Roberts and Carol Anne Modena, Port Townsend.
* Paul and Connie Snyder, Port Angeles.
* Kathleen Young, Port Townsend.
* Ray and Laurel Bentsen, Sequim.
* The Bayuga, Port Angeles.
* David and Jenny Marceau, Sequim.
* Brad and Kathy Anderson, Port Angeles.
* Herb and Marolyn Russell, Port Angeles.
* Robert Howard, Sequim.
* Jack and Millie Lyon, Port Angeles.
* Bill and Barbara VanderWerf, Sequim.
* The Payes (Chuck and Jacque), Sequim.
* Joe and Naomi Denhart, Port Angeles.
* Eleanor Phillips, Sequim.
* Dale and Kathryn Hofer, Port Angeles.
* Yvette N. Polizzi, Sequim.
* Nina Benlan, Sequim.
* Angelo and Brenda Spandrio, Sequim.
* Patricia Bartlett, Port Angeles.
* Doreen Pierson, Sacramento, Calif.
* Elsa Laresser, Sequim.
* James and Rachael Graham, Port Angeles.
* Al and Phyllis Weisenburger, Brinnon.
* Sharon Hollatz, Port Angeles.
* Ed and Judy English, Sequim.
* D. Roderick, Port Angeles.
* George and Rae Anne Raney, Port Townsend.
* Dick and Dottie Foster, Port Angeles.
* Carol Lee and Robin Moses, Carlsborg.
* Elsie MacDougall, Port Angeles.
* Ed and Sue, Port Angeles.
* Berniece Judd, Port Angeles.
* Bob and Mary Howell, Forks.
* Ben and Kay Lonn, Forks.
* Keith and Fran Wollen, Port Angeles.
* Doug and Trudy Rittenhouse, Port Angeles.
* Nic and Judy Dolmatoff, Port Angeles.
* Gene and Ann Trelstad, Port Angeles.
* Ruth M. Lindberg, Port Angeles.
* Rick and Wendy Oak, Port Angeles.
* Phyllis and Ed Hopfner, Port Angeles.
* Doug and Marline Atterbury, Port Angeles.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested anonymity):
* Sequim — In honor of DAV — Disabled American Veterans.
* Port Townsend — Thank you for sponsoring such a worthy cause.
* Port Townsend — In memory of Emily the cat.
* Port Angeles — In memory of Christopher Mortell, the sweetest, most precious little boy that ever was.
* Sequim — In memory of Maude Leonard and Mabel.
* Sequim — In memory of Larry.
* Port Angeles — In memory of Mother Chris Dalton.
* Port Angeles — In memory of Ed Moriarty.
* Sequim — In memory of “Sal” Salvaggio.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Sequim, $40.
* Port Angeles, $40.
* Sequim, $110.
* Sequim, $500.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Townsend, $100.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Sequim, $1,000.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $101.
* Sequim, $200.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $200.
* Sequim, $50.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $500.
* Port Angeles, $200.
* Sequim, $500.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Townsend, $25.
* Port Ludlow, $250.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Ludlow, $20.
* Sequim, $20.
* Sequim, $25.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $300.
* Port Angeles, $20.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $1,000.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Townsend, $500.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Sequim, $102.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $35.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Port Townsend, $25.
* Port Angeles, $25.
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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.