EDITOR’S NOTE — For 19 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.
Today we feature another 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 — Tami Stone hit rock bottom.
Peninsula Daily News’ Peninsula Home Fund and other organizations helped her and her children climb out of their pit of despair.
“Now,” she says proudly, “I want to help others and for the rest of my life to mean something.
“Putting my life back together has been the toughest hill to climb in my life, but with help I’m doing it.”
Facing a crisis, the Home Fund helped build a bridge for Tami and her two children, Roger, 2, and David, 6, to independence and self-sufficiency when they needed a “hand up, not a handout.”
Without any deductions for administration or other overhead, the Home Fund is a safety net for people in Jefferson and Clallam counties like Tami and her two boys when they suddenly face an emergency situation and can’t find help elsewhere.
Donations from the community are vital to the success of the fund — 100 percent of the dollars donated go directly to assist those in need on the North Olympic Peninsula.
So far in 2008, the donations have been felt in powerful, meaningful ways in the lives of Tami, Roger and David — and, as of last Friday, 2,842 other families and individuals across the Peninsula.
Lived in van
Tami was trapped in a life of alcoholism and drug abuse.
At one point she and the children even lived in her van.
“Drugs were first in my life,” says Tami.
“If I wasn’t taking all my energy and money and putting it toward my addiction, I could have taken my kids and gone to a friend’s home to live for awhile.
“It took me a while to realize how out of control my life had become.”
One night, it hit her how much she hated the person she had become — how she was ruining her life and her children” lives and hurting everyone around her.
Good friends had walked away from her after letting her know they would not continue to watch her destroy her life.
But “once I was willing to stop the abuse, and to reach out for help, I found a lot of people who loved me and were willing to help me get back on my feet.”
She found a good job, doing custodial work 30 hours a week for a church in Port Angeles.
She and the boys rented a house and settled into a positive routine.
She was battling back. Things were getting better.
Then her landlord gave her a 20-day notice to move out.
“I had no past due payments with him, but we only had a month-to-month agreement, so he had the right to ask me to move,” says Tami.
“I was caught up on my bills but didn’t have any extra money.
“I kind of panicked at the idea of having only 20 days to find a place to live and not having any money for a deposit.”
Looking for an apartment
She began calling friends and phoning every place she could find that had a place to rent.
Tami was also put in contact with OlyCAP — Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula.
In addition to OlyCAP’s wide array of services for people who are often going through a transition, it also screens applicants for the Peninsula Home Fund and disperses the funds .
But when Tami talked with an OlyCAP caseworker about low-income housing apartments, she learned there was a long waiting list.
Then she visited a friend and happened to see a rental sign in a window of a tiny house in Port Angeles.
Her heart sank when the landlord told her the rent was $700 a month. She knew she’d never be able to afford that amount.
But after talking with Tami and hearing her situation, he agreed to lower the rent to $500 a month.
The landlord also agreed to work out a subsided low-income tenant/landlord agreement through a program with the Housing Authority of Clallam County.
Then, through OlyCAP, the Peninsula Home Fund set aside money toward her security deposit.
The landlord let Tami and the boys move in right away without a “dime in my pocket. Just going on my word and knowing the Peninsula Home Fund was going to help give $200 toward the deposit.”
As the Christmas holidays approach, she and her children have been working together to decorate their new home.
After years of drug abuse, she had cleaned up her life — and once again she was moving forward.
“It seems crazy talking about this the type of person I used to be,” she says, “but it feels good to realize where I am now.”
No money is deducted
From Thanksgiving through Dec. 31, the PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund is seeking contributions for its 2008 holiday season fund-raising campaign.
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to LaPush, the fund is a “hand up, not a handout” when there is nowhere else to turn.
Every penny, every dollar, donated goes — without any deductions for administration or overhead — to making life better for children, teens, families and the elderly in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
The 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.
The Peninsula Home Fund is unique and nonprofit:
• No money is deducted for administration or other overhead.
• 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 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 handout” focus of the fund.
• Whenever possible, Peninsula Home Fund case managers 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.
$2,000 left
• 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 2007 — $193,312.
All of that money will be spent by Dec. 31.
“Our count is up to 2,843″ [individuals and families helped from the Home Fund as of last Friday],” said Ken Dane of OlyCAP.
“We are still making some appointments and have a bit over $2,000 [left in the fund].
“We keep a small emergency reserve until year end (last year that supported emergency food aid to the Hoh tribe after the flooding there) and as the year closes out, we eat into that.
“We are into that reserve now, and it will be used by year end.
“Lets hope the current weather forecast doesn’t raise an emergency.”
• Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from other agencies, enabling OlyCAP to often stretch the value of a donation.
• Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually up to $150.
• 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@peninsuladaily news.com.
Peninsula Daily News publishes stories every Sunday and Wednesday during the fund-raising campaign, reporting on how the fund works and, in the Sunday stories, also listing contributors.
Contributions so far
While most of the money is raised between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, the Peninsula Home Fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
Here is a list of donors whose contributions were processed between Dec. 6 and Dec. 11 — thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors like Isabel Sanchez and her children:
• Charles and Marilyn Whidden, Port Angeles — $100.
• Sally Milici, Beaver — $200. In memory of Dirk Milici.
• Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Martell, Port Angeles — $25. In memory of Christopher and Rð Elle.
• Edward and Barbara Edem, Sequim — $500.
• Sons of Norway, Port Angeles — $200.
• Al and Lori Althoff, Port Angeles — $120.
• Donald and Nancy Morton, Port Ludlow — $100.
• Jerry and Arlene Weed, Sequim — $100.
• Hoch Construction Inc., Port Angeles — $1,000. In memory of our moms.
• Renee Krickemeyer, Port Townsend — $50.
• Brian and Diane Hammer, Sequim — $100. In memory of Ben Mersher.
• Dave and Jenny Marceau, Sequim — $25. In memory of Chris Marceau.
• Naomi Marcus, Port Townsend — $200. In memory of my family. Funds to help Port Townsend women in need.
• Jean Kirner, Port Angeles — $100. In memory of Bon Kirner.
• Yvonne Dillon and Daniel Zimm, Port Townsend — $100.
• Erica C. Schreiber, Sequim — $100. In memory of my beloved husband, Dr. Eric C. Schreiber. He loved this beautiful area and felt that the Home Fund was an excellent charity.
• Uptown Physical Therapy, Port Townsend — $500.
• Joy McQueen, Sequim — $100.
• Weldon and Joan Sharp, Sequim — $100.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested that the amount of their donation be kept private):
• Ruth Lindberg, Port Angeles. In Memory of Marvin J. Lindberg.
• Nancy Vivolo, Port Angeles.
• Brian Fairbanks, Forks. In memory of Kristine Fairbanks.
• Olympic Electric Co. Inc., Port Angeles. In honor of Henry Burkhurdt Sr.
• Richard and Karen Grennan, Sequim. In memory of Mimi and Papa.
• Sally and Dana B. Dolloff, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Bob and Barbra Bullinger, Sequim. In honor of Jake.
• Ronald and June Coleman, Sequim.
• David R. Martin, Sequim.
• Terry and Phyllis McMahon, Sequim.
• Fred and Georgine Sullivan, Walnut Creek, Calif.
• Fred and Alta Wilson, Port Angeles.
• Bob and Joanne Bird, Brinnon.
• Joe and Fran Streva, Sequim.
• Balducci Family, Port Angeles. In memory of loved ones.
• Eileen M. Lowe, Sequim.
• Bill and LaVonne Mueller, Sequim.
• Cheryl Halvorson, Port Hadlock.
• Judy Munro, Port Angeles. In loving memory of my parents, Tom and Sally Munro.
• Kevin B. Willson, Port Angeles. In memory of Dennis J. Willson.
• Don Wilson, Port Townsend.
• Don and Betty Gray, Port Angeles. In memory of our parents.
• Mel and Vicci Rudin, Port Angeles.
• Rich and Claudia Fox, Sequim. In memory of Danny Holmquist.
• Jean and E.C. Gockerell, Sequim.
• Joe and Karen Zook, Sequim.
• Jim and Marci Thomsen, Port Angeles. In memory of Nita Puffer.
• David A. Storm, Seattle.
• Paul and Arlene Lamoureux, Port Angeles.
• Bill and Karen Houghton, Sequim. In honor of our parents.
• Rick and Wendy Oak, Port Angeles.
• Russell and Arlene McClelland, Sequim.
• Don and Clare Hatler, Sequim. In memory of Bob Vail and George Koerber.
• Ella M. Sandvig, Port Townsend.
• Sue Priddy and Allen Herlyck, Port Townsend. In memory of our parents.
• Michael Moss and Betty Gordon, Sequim.
• Patricia Bartlett, Port Angeles. In memory of Margaret Lee.
• Janis Burger, Port Angeles.
• Robert and Susan Erzen, Sequim.
• Maura and Roger Oakes, Port Angeles.
• Joyce and Vince Zodiaco, Nordland.
• Kathleen Chapman, Port Angeles.
• June L. Matriotti, Sequim.
• Bob and Carol Philpott, Port Angeles. In memory of Marv and Jean Stolley.
• Jeannine and Gerard Johnson, Port Angeles.
• Bill and Sandy Bloor, Port Angeles.
• William and Willa Hall, Sequim.
• Ann Chang, Port Angeles. In memory of Andy Palmer. “Bless you for all that you did. You are missed.”
• Ann Chang, Port Angeles. In memory of Todd McGarvie. “You are missed by so many. Your legacy lives on in your beautiful children.”
• Ann Chang, Port Angeles. In memory of Lucy Ordona. “You are always in my thoughts. I miss you.”
• Ann Chang, Port Angeles. In memory of my family. “Thank you all for being you. You are the best.”
• Nydia Levick, Sequim.
• Gwyn and Steve Callis, Port Angeles.
• Ray and Sandy Thomas, Carlsborg.
• Del and Kris Cadwallader, Port Angeles. In honor of our son, Sgt. Erik Slater and fellow Pathfinders serving in Afghanistan. Thank you all. God bless.
• Stan and Mary Lou Johann, Sequim.
• James and Lucy Kittrick, Port Angeles.
• Enza McCormick and Ann Waldron, Sequim.
• Katherine Fletcher, Quilcene.
• Bill and Marlene Burnside, Sequim.
• Tom and Sandi Shields, Sequim.
• A.V. and Mary Robinson, Port Angeles.
• Russ and Sandra Hesselman, Port Angeles. In memory of Scott Hesselman.
• Sharon Hollatz, Port Angeles.
• Dennis and Diane Isaac, Sequim.
• April Kilgore and Monroe Stringham, Port Angeles.
• Peter B. Granlund, Port Angeles.
• Doug Cudd, Port Angeles. In memory of Carole Cudd.
• Glen and LaVeta Edmonson, Carlsborg.
• Joan and Bill Riedel, Sekiu. In memory of Riedel family.
• Larey and Sylvia Fox, Sequim.
• Rene Croteau, Port Angeles.
• Curt and Lesa Oppelt, Port Angeles. In memory of Laurel N. Oppelt.
• John Bodger and Selden McKee, Port Townsend.
• Nik and Judy Dolmatoff, Port Angeles.
• Midge Bader, Port Angeles. In memory of my nieces, Anne, Cheri and Susan.
• Larry and Nancy Fox, Port Angeles. To all those in need.
• Bob and Sue Marett, Port Townsend.
• Eleanor Naddy, Port Angeles.
• Don and Barb Reidel, Port Angeles.
• Sandra and David Marsh, Sequim.
• Chuck and Marian McGilvra, Port Angeles. In memory of Jean Snyder.
• Rosemary Bond, Port Angeles.
• Lee and Irene Wyman, Port Angeles. In memory of neighbor Mike Morrish.
• Jeff and Barb Dixon, Port Angeles. In memory of JoAnn Dixon and Patti Long.
• Violet Grall, Port Angeles. In honor of the love and concern from my wonderful family.
• Lorraine Schouten, Port Angeles.
• Lynda Larison, Sequim.
• Gene and Ann Trelstad, Port Angeles.
• Dee Stewart, Port Townsend.
• Doug and Trudy Rittenhouse, Port Angeles.
• Dorothy C. Melly, Port Angeles.
• Don and Gwen Schreiner, Sequim.
• Marcia Phillips, Port Angeles. To all the great caregivers.
• Lisa Painter, Nordland.
• Richard and Connie Thorson, Port Angeles.
• Rose Crumb, Port Angeles. In memory of Red Crumb.
• Earl and Bettylou Burgett, Port Townsend. In gratitude to our six children and their families.
• Gene and Norma Turner, Port Angeles.
• Kristin Ecklund, Sequim. In honor of Marydee Countryman, trainer extraordinaire of community emergency response teams (CERTs).
• Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dawson, Port Angeles.
• John and Nancy Jost, Sequim.
• Carol A. Baker, Port Hadlock.
• Ramona Burdick, Port Angeles. In memory of Dorothy Adams.
• Barbara Erler and Mel Perricone, Sequim.
• Kerry and Marilyn Perkins, Port Angeles. In honor of our families.
• Kerry and Marilyn Perkins, Port Angeles. In memory of Eva Wilson.
• M. Ralph and Harriet W. Angulo, Port Angeles.
• Russ and Janet Holt, Sequim.
• Karen and Tony DeLorenzo, Port Townsend.
• Sol and Vivian Raymond, Port Townsend.
• Winifred Mayes, Sequim.
• Ann and Bob McCartney, Port Angeles. In memory of Kevin McCartney.
• Gloria Schmidt, Sequim.
• Robert and Hayes Wasilewski, Port Angeles. In honor of Rosella Wasilewski.
• Edith Morgan, Sequim.
• Gene and Jean Spargo, Sequim.
• Willard and Paula Baker, Sequim.
• Donna and Eric Miner, Sequim. In honor of all single parent dads.
• Inge Magrs, Sequim. In memory of Bill Magrs.
• Blain and Susan Eliot, Sequim. In memory of Dorothy Eliot.
• Carol W. Geer, Sequim. In memory of Earl and Dorothy Miller.
• Chuck and Jacque Payes, Sequim.
• Brad LaBrie, Port Angeles. In memory of George Johansen.
• Carl and Janet Nyberg, Port Angeles. In memory of Carl and Dorothy Nyberg and Ray Miller.
• Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Dona and Jim Cloud, Port Angeles. In honor of family and friends.
• Ted and Prue Miller, Forks. In memory of Ann Brewer.
• Barbara Edl, Sequim.
• Robert Walker, Port Townsend.
• Jan and Jack Forrest, Port Townsend.
• Andrea Alstrup, Sequim. In memory of Kenneth Alstrup.
• Harry Stone, Port Angeles.
• Joan and Richard Sargent, Port Angeles. In memory of daughter Paula Sargent.
• Jack and Millie Lyon, Port Angeles. In memory of Dorothy Duncan.
• Mrs. Phyllis Bentley, Sequim. In memory of Wallace Bentley.
• Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Carlson, Sequim.
• Edith Snelgrove, Port Angeles. In memory of my son, David.
• Barbara Baker, Sequim. In memory of Cy Severson.
• Thelma H. Helgeson, Port Angeles. In memory of Archie Helgeson and two children. Oscar Winters family
• R.L. Springfield and Velma (Winters) Springfield, Port Angeles. In memory of Lee Springfield, Harold Winters and grandson Trevor Homer
• Lois Barner, Port Angeles.
• Roger and Dianne Ludeman, Port Angeles.
• AMS Audio Enterprises Inc., Sequim.
• Layton and Marsha Carr, Sequim.
• Mary K. Otto, Port Angeles. In memory of Si Otto.
• Colleen Daley, Port Angeles. In memory of Russell Ryckman (12-16-1957 — 10-31-1999)
• Fairview Homemakers, Sequim.
• Dave and Linda Johnson, Sequim. In loving memory of Maud and Leonard.
• Dave and Linda Johnson, Sequim. In loving memory of Mabel and Bill.
• Dianne and Sylvia Durrwachter, Port Angeles. In memory of Ruth and Fred Durrwachter and a get well wish to Vera Pallow.
• John Hogue, Port Angeles.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested anonymity):
• Sequim — $500.
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $1,000. In honor of the D.A.V. Port Angeles.
• Sekiu — $70.
• Sequim — $25.
• Sequim — $400.
• Sequim — $100.
wn Sequim — $200.
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $200.
• Sequim — $200.
• Port Angeles — $75.
• Port Angeles — $25.
• Sequim — $25.
• Chimacum — $100.
• Port Townsend — $50.
• Sequim — $200.
• Sequim — $250.
• Port Hadlock — $100.
• Sequim — $500.
• Sequim — $25.
• Port Angeles — $35.
• Port Angeles — $25.
• Sequim — $40.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $115.
• Sequim — $150. In honor of Hans Rosenberg.
• Sequim — $20.
• Port Angeles — $75.
• Port Townsend — $25.
• Sequim — $100.
• Port Angeles — $50.
• Sequim — $40.
• Port Townsend — $25. In honor of our armed forces.
• Port Angeles — $50.
• Port Angeles — $200. In memory of E.E. Patterson.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Sequim — $150.
• Port Angeles — $30.
• Sequim — $1,000.
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $100.
• Sequim — $30.
• Sequim — $500.
• Sequim — $100.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $10.
• Port Ludlow — $50.
• Port Angeles — $5.
• Sequim — $100.
• Port Angeles — $50.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $150.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Sequim — $100.
• Sequim — $1,000.
• Anonymous (no information on donation) — $25.
• Port Angeles — $30.
• Port Angeles — $250.
• Port Angeles — $50.
• Sequim — $50.
• Sequim — $1,000.
• Sequim — $100.
• Port Angeles — $50.
• Sequim — $100.
• Sequim — $25.
• Port Angeles — $20.
• Sequim — $50.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Port Angeles — $20.
• Port Townsend — $150.
• Sequim — $200.
• Port Angeles — $20.
• Carlsborg — $5,000.
• Port Angeles — $100.
• Sequim — $20.
• Sequim — $20.
• Sequim — $20.
• Port Townsend — $150.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — We make every effort to ensure that all donors have been properly listed. We apologize for any omissions or inaccuracies.
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.
