EDITOR’s NOTE: – This is another in a series of articles on the Peninsula Home Fund. Click on the HOME FUND link at left to generate a coupon to print out and send with your donation.
PORT ANGELES — Angie Conley is about to have a baby — any minute!
Already the mother of an active 3-year-old, Jordan, she hopes one day to be a nurse.
Right now, she faces the realities of a new child — and an uphill financial struggle.
“Many of the people we help are young, single mothers who get little or no support from the fathers of their children,” says Rita Houston, director of community resource and referral Division for OlyCAP — Olympic Community Action Programs.
OlyCAP oversees the Peninsula Daily News’ “hand-up, not a hand-out” Peninsula Home Fund.
“There is plenty of blame to go around, but our job is to make sure that these families are safe and have at least the basics to sustain themselves.”
Conley has been a hard worker in rather physically taxing jobs.
Most recently, she worked for a linen company.
“I made enough to get by, but I have always had to pay at least $500 per month for rent,” she said.
“My pregnancy got to the place where I couldn’t continue to work. I was encouraged by friends to get on the list for subsidized housing.
“In that situation, I wouldn’t need to worry about having a roof over my head when the baby came.”
Conley got on the waiting list and then was called with the good news that an apartment was available.
“I was so excited at first, then I was scared, because they told me I would need a security deposit of $420 just to move in.
“I couldn’t have saved that much money in several months!”
Help from Home Fund
“Angie came to us, and I knew this was a case for the Home Fund,” recalls Patty Cuddeback, Angie’s case manager at OlyCAP.
“She has a strong work ethic, but having a baby can put work on hold for a while, even for a strong young lady.
“She also has a great plan to improve herself and to become a nurse.”
Conley got the apartment and is secure now as far as housing goes.
When asked how she gets along otherwise, she replies:
“Thank God for food stamps. I’m pretty shy about asking for help, and it takes me awhile to work up the courage, but my son and I have to eat.”
Says Dan Wollam, executive director of OlyCAP:
“We are so thankful to the community for its contributions to the Home Fund.
“Without that fund, hundreds of people would go without basic living needs — and many of them would be children.”
Jefferson and Clallam
Peninsula Home Fund is seeking contributions for its annual holiday-season fund-raising campaign.
Now in its 15th year, the fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
It is managed for the Peninsula Daily News by OlyCAP, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula.
* In the past 12 months, the fund has assisted more than 750 households.
* No money is deducted for administration or other overhead.
* All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
* No money is diverted for administration or other overhead. All costs are absorbed by the PDN and OlyCAP.
* All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through the crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency.
* 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.
* Donors’ personal information is kept confidential. The PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
* Individuals, couples, businesses and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2002 — $67,048.
All of that money is expected to be spent by Dec. 31.
* 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.
* 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.
The PDN is publishing stories every Wednesday and Sunday through Dec. 30 on how the Peninsula Home Fund operates.
How to donate
A gift of any size is welcome.
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.
New contributions
The following are contributions received between Friday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 19 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors:
* Hamilton Elementary School staff, Port Angeles, $127.
* W.I.S.H. (Women Into Scandinavian Heritage), Port Angeles, $100.
* Clallam Transit Employee Association, Port Angeles, $1,000.
* North Peninsula Building Association, Port Angeles, $862.
* John and Julie Kochanek, Vancouver, Wash., $50; in memory of Monty and Audrey Colvin.
* James and Laurine Drennan, Port Angeles, $100; in memory of son Steve Gerrodette.
* Gloria E. Timm, Port Angeles, $30; in honor of Richard E. Timm.
* Zeller Westabrook, Port Angeles, $50; in memory of brother Lt. (jg) Fred Z. Troescher Jr., USNA 1949. B. 5-14-1927 — D. 12-15-1953. Gone but not forgotten.
* Dick and Judy Owen, Port Angeles, $100.
* William and Carol Peet, Port Angeles, $100.
* Betty J. Sleeper, Port Angeles, $100.
* “Ed and Sue,” Port Angeles, $100.
* Howard Gipson, Port Angeles, $100.
* Dave Kalb, Sequim, $25.
* Bree Kalb, Chapel Hill, N.C., $25.
* John Kalb, Salisbury, Md., $25.
Many thanks also to these donors (amount of donation private):
* Cardiac Services Department Staff, Olympic Medical Center, Port Angeles; in honor of our volunteer liaison medical directors: Rebecca Corley, M.D.; Paul Pederson, M.D.; Tony Secaira, M.D. We thank you for the guidance and enduring our interruptions.
* Joan Sargent, Port Angeles; in memory of Paula Sargent.
* Bryant and Juliette Hall, Port Angeles; in memory of Juliette Hall Jr.
* Edith Snelgrove, Port Angeles; in memory of my son David Pitts.
* Verna and Kris Rogers, Port Angeles; in memory of Nick Rogers.
* James and Eula Sale, Port Angeles; in memory of William Thomas Sr.
* Lanny Booth, Hawarden, Iowa; “a Christmas present for your fund” in honor of Barry Booth and William Worster.
* Ruth J. Shelp, Port Angeles; in honor of our Armed Services.
* Mary and Chris James, Port Angeles; in memory of Janet. Louise and Leslie.
* Doug and Marline Atterbury, Port Angeles; in memory of our Moms.
* Doreen Pierson, Sacramento, Calif. I read your paper on-line every day; fell in love with Port Angeles while on vacation. This is a great way to help the community!
* Leslie Johnson, San Diego. Future resident!
* Robert Lawry, Port Angeles; in honor of Robert Lawry.
* Marcia McCrorie, Sequim; in memory of Bill McCrorie.
* Kerry and Marilyn Perkins, Port Angeles; in memory of Eva Wilson.
* Betty and Bernie Abbott, Port Angeles; in memory of deceased family.
* Sharon B. Hollatz, Port Angeles; in memory of Joe and Belle.
* Dorothea Morgan, Port Angeles; in memory of Nico Snel.
* J.C. and Pat S., Sequim. Thank you for helping out the needy by not deducting any of the monies collected for your expenses. God bless you and yours. Merry Xmas, and we hope you have a healthy and prosperous new year in ’04.
* Eugene and Lois Larsen, Port Angeles; in memory of Bill Volkmann.
* Ethel Butler, Port Angeles; in memory of Harold Butler.
* Richard and Karen Grennan. Sequim; in memory of Mary Louise Morrison.
* Nick and Sandy Larson, Port Angeles; in memory of Bob Michalscheck.
* Geraldine Kraski, Edmonds; in memory of Josephine Johnson.
* Olympic Peninsula Doll Club, Sequim.
* Dottie Hopkins, Port Angeles.
* E.C.A., Port Townsend.
* Chuck and Marian McGilvra, Port Angeles.
* Kathy and Jim Wesley, Port Angeles.
* John and Rosemary Forster, Port Angeles.
* Bill and Carol Jensen, Sequim.
* Ralph and Penni Brockett, Port Angeles.
* Bill and Barb Pearl, Neah Bay.
* Diane and Rolland Kenitzer, Port Angeles.
* Pete and Cindi Glasier, Sequim.
* David A. Storm, Seattle.
* Gene and Ann Trelstad, Port Angeles.
* Harry and Barbara Hughes, Sequim.
* Larry and Kathie Karst, Port Angeles.
* Pat Vautier, Port Angeles.
* Will and Kay Garrison, Port Angeles.
* Tom and Karen Gates, Port Angeles.
* Robert and Ruth Worley, Port Angeles.
* Hank and Becky Samson, Sequim.
* Jerry and Suzanne Strawn, Sequim.
* John and Harriet Salathe
* Linda Oestrike, Port Angeles.
* Connie Kinyon, Sequim.
* Mr. and Mrs. Ted W. Sullivan, Port Angeles.
* Leighton D. and Sharon S. Clark, Port Angeles.
* Rich and Claudia Fox, Sequim.
* William and Connie Waddington, Bainbridge Island.
* Bob and Arline Heleniak, Sequim.
* Marion L. Murphy, Port Angeles.
* Laurel Cripe and Bill Soderlind, Port Angeles.
Many thanks also to these donors who requested anonymity:
* Sequim, $1,000.
* Sequim, $500.
* Sequim, $50; in memory of George Buckingham.
* Port Angeles, $10; in memory of Len Wilson.
* Port Angeles, $50; in memory of Dean Palmer.
* Port Angeles, $10; in memory of Sonia Morgan.
* Forks, $50; in loving memory of Dave “The Truth” Bonnell.
* Sequim, $100; in honor of Katie, Susie and Julie.
* Port Angeles, $160. I would like this applied to Forks area, if possible.
* Port Angeles, $25; in honor of Sue Lea.
* Port Angeles, $25; in honor of Nina Rumore, “who taught her children compassion for others.”
* Port Angeles, $20; in memory of all our military.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $10.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $200.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Sequim, $25.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $60.
* Port Angeles, $200.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Sequim, $200.
* Port Townsend, $25.
* Sequim, 50.
* Sequim, $500.
* Port Townsend, $100.
* Sequim, $200.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $20.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $30.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $200.
* Port Angeles, $30.
* Sequim, $150.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Sequim, $10
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Port Angeles, 50.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Townsend, $200.
* Sequim, $200.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $100.
Handwriting can be hard to decipher at times. Please report any errors in this list to John Brewer, 360-417-3500; john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com. Our sincerest appreciation again to our donors.