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Peninsula Home Fund helps Port Angeles mother realize her dream

Peninsula Daily News - 12/2/2018

By Diane Urbani de la Paz

For Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELESTrina Sloan's dream is to live as an independent woman, working and raising her daughter and two sons.

Her path has not been smooth. But Sloan, 31, is walking, a step at a time, toward this dream.

At Peninsula College she is studying for her General Education Development (GED) diploma; she's got the language arts portion done and plans to finish the math, science and social studies by the end of the year.

From there she hopes to enter the college's Nursing Assistant Certificate program, which will provide her with some of the most in-demand skills in the country.

Sloan also has moved into her own apartment in Port Angeles with her 2-year-old son, Lincoln. The pair came out to the North Olympic Peninsula following Sloan's divorce; at first she lived with her father, Rob Sloan, in Sequim.

Rob has done maintenance work for the Early Childhood Services division of Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP, for nearly 20 years. He let his daughter know about some help that might be available for her and her youngest from OlyCAP and the Peninsula Home Fund.

Lincoln, a handsome blond boy, wasn't interested in socializing with other kids. Apart from others, he would line up his toys, not making eye contact with his mother.

It took 15 months, Sloan said, to get Lincoln in to see a psychologist in Seattle. When she at last got the appointment, driving over there wasn't something she could afford.

OlyCAP, via the Peninsula Home Fund, supplied gasoline vouchers for the two trips she and Lincoln made, two trips that resulted in his diagnosis of autism.

Peninsula Home Fund money also helped provide a few basics: groceries, hygiene products, diapers. Sloan was grateful beyond words, since she'd just lost a job.

The schedule at this job had made it impossible to care for her son; Lincoln goes to Early Head Start in Port Angeles during the week, and she needs time with him on weekends.

"We like to go on adventures," such as hiking the Marymere Falls trail, she said. "I just like to hang out with my little dude."

Receiving the diagnosis, Sloan hopes, will make it easier to access resources for families living with autism.

Recently, she was able to adopt a kitten — helped along by a doctor's note affirming the emotional support a pet would give Lincoln.

"She's also emotional support for me," Sloan said of the mischievous little thing.

Sloan grew up in Fountain Valley, Calif., near Anaheim. She loved visiting Disneyland, and carries fond memories of the rides and shows, including one featuring President Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. Her son Lincoln's name was inspired by this memory.

In Port Angeles, Sloan has found strong support at the Family Healing Center. She enrolled in parenting classes taught by executive director Diana Velasco; Velasco also helped her get into the college's GED program.

"She's a good little mama," Velasco said of her student.

The Family Healing Center, at 330 E. First St., www.FamilyHealingCtr.com and on Facebook, offers classes for parents of infants, toddlers and preschool-age children.

In 2019, Velasco plans to add classes for parents of school-age kids; she'll continue providing child care during sessions. Often these nine- to 18-week courses are full, since many students are court-ordered to attend. If there's space, though, parents can enroll and pay the sliding-scale fee.

"I provide a safe place to learn and be," Velasco said.

If a parent grew up in a turbulent environment, she seeks to help change the cycle, and teach each parent nurturing ways to bond with their kids.

"She is so awesome. She helps families like no other," Sloan said of Velasco.

This December is likewise shaping up to be awesome. Sloan's 10-year-old son Ryley and 13-year-old daughter Chloe, who live in Spokane, are coming.

Lincoln is especially close to his sister. After previous visits, when it was time for her to leave, he stood by the door, crying. This time, Sloan said, Chloe gets to stay for her whole winter vacation.

Remember Sloan's dream? Together this Christmas, she and her family will share a slice of it.

Peninsula's safety net

The Peninsula Home Fund — a safety net for local residents when they suddenly face an emergency situation and can't find help elsewhere — is seeking contributions for its annual holiday season fundraising campaign.

From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim and La Push, money from the fund is used for hot meals for seniors; warm winter coats for kids; home repairs for a low-income family; needed prescription drugs; dental work; safe, drug-free temporary housing; eyeglasses — the list goes on and on.

• The average amount of help this year has been $129 per person.

• All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through a crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency.

Home Fund case managers often 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.

As needed, 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.

The goal again: "a hand up, not a handout."

• No money is deducted by the Peninsula Daily News for administration fees or any other overhead.

Every penny goes to OlyCAP.

The money goes to help the most vulnerable members of our community, from infants to families to seniors.

Please note: Because of heavy community demands, the loss of grants because of the economy and recent cuts in government funding, OlyCAP beginning in 2012 was permitted to use 10 percent — 10 cents of every dollar donated — to pay for the vital programs and services for Home Fund clients. (Previously there were no deductions.)

• All contributions are IRS 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 and OlyCAP do not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone or make any other use of it.

Since its beginning in 1989, the fund has relied on the support of Jefferson and Clallam residents.

Using the $218,004 contributed to the Peninsula Home Fund in 2017, OlyCAP had helped 1,087 people from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30.

The remaining funding of $64,611 will continue to help your friends and neighbors on the Peninsula through the middle of January — when 2018 donations will begin to offer a lifeline in 2019.

How to apply for grant

To apply for a Peninsula Home Fund grant, contact one of the three OlyCAP offices:

• OlyCAP's Port Angeles office is at 228 W. First St., Suite J (Armory Square Mall); 360-452-4726. For Port Angeles- and Sequim-area residents.

• Its Port Townsend office is at 823 Commerce Loop; 360-385-2571. For Jefferson County residents.

• The Forks office is at 421 Fifth Ave.; 360-374-6193. For West End ­residents.

Leave a message in the voice mail box at any of the three numbers, and a Home Fund caseworker will phone you back.

OlyCAP's website: www.olycap.org; email: action@olycap.org.

Contributions so far

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.

To donate online by credit card, click on www.olycap.org/peninsula-home-fund.

Here is a list of donors whose Home Fund contributions were processed up to Tuesday last week.

Name and Amount

Bonnie Bulach and Peter Mehl, Port Angeles, $100. In memory of Larry Mehl.

Roger and Connie West, Port Angeles, $100. In memory of Evan Walker Pilson.

John and Christine Usher, Port Angeles, $50.

Sonya White, Port Angeles, $100. In honor of Doris White.

John Brewer, Port Angeles, $250. In honor of those dedicated Peninsula Daily News professionals who are still with the newspaper in spirit: Henry Acevedo, Tom Thompson, Brad LaBrie, Gary Jones, Jim Manders and Verlie Wynn.

John Brewer, Port Angeles, $250. In honor of the staff of the Peninsula Daily News.

John and Denise Kane, Sequim, $50. In memory of Tammy Meyer.

Norbert and Ruth Karr, Chimacum, $100.

James and Sheri Mackrow, Port Angeles, $150.

Dick and Gayle Larson, Sequim, $50.

Robert C. Zech, Port Angeles, $100.

D.E.W., Sequim, $500.

David Sullivan and Veda Wilson, Port Townsend, $500.

Patricia Bartlett, Sequim, $100. In honor of Janet Lee.

Name Only

Jerry and Peggy Armstrong, Sequim.

Lorna Konopaski, Port Angeles. In honor of Warren Konopaski.

Judith West, Port Townsend. In memory of Jenny.

Dennis A. Duncan, Port Angeles. In memory of Dorothy Duncan.

Bruce and Jane Harbers, Carlsborg.

Barbara Brittingham, Port Angeles. In memory of my siblings, Joan, Laurie and Tom.

Chris Shea, Sequim.

Tom and Joyce LaMure, Sequim.

Marilyn Freeman, Sequim.

Elsbeth Switzer, Sequim.

Ron and Phyllis Stecker, Sequim.

Andy and Colleen Brastad, Port Angeles. In memory of our mothers.

Cindy Mackay, Sequim.

Al and Jane Bloomquist, Port Angeles.

Marilyn Bruning, Sequim.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Queen of Angels Parish, Port Angeles.

Carl Miller, Port Ludlow.

Florence H. Bucierka, Sequim.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Jim's Pharmacy, its customers and its employees, Port Angeles.

A. Laverne Dixon, Port Angeles.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Donald Naddy Fund, So. Dakota Community Foundation, Pierre, S.D.In memory of Eleanor, Helen and Donald Naddy.

Martell Family, Port Angeles. In memory of Joe Martell Abbott.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

The Cedars at Dungeness Ladies 18-Hole Golf Association, Sequim.

Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, I.L.

Employees' contribution, Jim's Pharmacy, Port Angeles.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Kitsap Bank, Port Orchard.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

A. Laverne Dixon, Port Angeles.

The Rogland Family Fund, Port Townsend.

Arthur I. Goldstien, Sequim.

Just Dolls of Washington, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Paul Douglas Lotzgesell, Sequim.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Lois Bellamy, Port Angeles.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Joe Cammack, Port Angeles

Employees of Jim's Pharmacy, Port Angeles.

Employees of Jim's Pharmacy, Port Angeles.

Dona Gallaher, Sequim.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

A. Laverne Dixon, Port Angeles.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

A. Laverne Dixon, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Strait Air Volksgruppe, Port Angeles.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

A. Laverne Dixon, Port Angeles.

Kevin and Jo Anne Estes, Sequim.

Jack and Jan Tatom, Sequim.

Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.

Ross and Vee Canning, Port Angeles.

Donna Brown, Port Angeles.

Marilyn Freeman, Port Angeles. In honor of our veterans.

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and 7 Cedars Casino Resort Properties, Sequim.

Diane Wheeler, Port Angeles.

Russell Hesselman, Port Angeles. In memory of Sandra and Scott.

Jim and Marci Thomsen, Port Angeles. In memory of Fr. Mark Stehly and Dan Donahue.

Roy and Marilyn Brown, Marquette, Mich.

Sue and C.V. Tondreau, Sequim.

Olympic Electric Co. Inc., Port Angeles. In memory of Henry and Jane Burkhardt.

Terry Troyer, Port Angeles. In memory of Miles and Eleanor Troyer.

Dorothy West, Sequim. In memory of Earl M. West.

Gary and Jan Holmquist, Port Angeles. In loving memory of Danny Holmquist.

John and Renee Jones, Sequim.

Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.

Voneda Stiewe, Chimacum.

Rick and Wendy Oak, Port Angeles.

Diane Kaufman, Port Angeles.

Hoch Construction Inc., Port Angeles.

Mark and Ninette Swanson, Port Angeles. In honor of our parents.

Enza McCormick and Ann Waldron, Sequim.

Bob and Sue Erzen, Sequim.

Thomas Wolfe, Port Angeles.

Lillian Adamson, Port Angeles. In honor of Wild Bill/Sweet William.

Cyndi Ross, Port Angeles. In honor of Sue Renshaw and Lil Gimmestad.

Steven McCreary, Port Townsend.

Ed Bowlby, Sequim.

Kathleen Balducci, Port Angeles. In memory of Bal Balducci.

Bill and Barb Pearl, Port Angeles.

Gene and Jean Spargo, Sequim.

Naomi Marcus, Port Townsend.

Dr. Roger Eichman, Nordland.

Beth McGuffin, Sequim.

Eldora Pederson, Port Angeles.

Deanna McHenry, Port Angeles. In memory of Oma, Granny and John.

Richard and Kandi Lohneis, Beaver. In memory of our parents, John and Margaret Lohneis and Charles and Shirley Fox.

Kris Ecklund, Sequim. In honor of volunteers of Fire District No. 3.

Joan and William Harnett, Sequim.

Dale Doran, Port Angeles. In memory of Nathalia "Punky" Doran.

Steve and Gwyn Callis, Port Angeles.

Dan and Vicki Pierson, Port Angeles.

Barbara Hughes, Sequim.

Jay and Alicia Crawford, Sequim. In memory of Maya, always in our hearts.

Stan and Sally Garlick, Port Angeles. In memory of Cynthia Little.

Ellen and Ted Tsoneff, Port Angeles.

Larry and Sandy Davidson, Sequim. In honor of Pennie and Bill Dickin.

Anonymous

Port Angeles, $25. In memory of Casey and Nina Rumore.

Port Angeles, $50.

Port Ludlow, $30.

Sequim, $30.

Neah Bay, $200.

Sequim, $100.

Sequim, $100.

Port Townsend, $100.

Sequim, $250.

Sequim, $50.

Port Angeles, $20.

Sequim, $100.

Port Angeles, $100.

Port Angeles, $100.

Port Townsend, $100. In memory of G.W. Thorsen.

Sequim, $100.

Port Angeles, $20.

Sequim, $50.

Port Townsend, $100.

Port Townsend, $30.

Port Angeles, $250. In memory of Marian Fisken Byse.

Port Angeles, $200. In honor of everyone who has served.

Port Angeles, $150. In honor of the dedicated staff of the Peninsula Daily News.

________

Diane Urbani de la Paz, a former features editor for the Peninsula Daily News, is a freelance writer living in Port Townsend.