United Good Neighbors (UGN) surpassed its fall fund drive of $200,000 by raising $250,000 to help local health and human services organizations to assist Jefferson County citizens.

The nonprofit annually holds a drive in the fall to raise funds for organizations such as the YMCA, Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) and Discovery Behavioral Health.

Overall, the fall drive helped UGN raise its annual campaign to more than $300,000, said Nikki Russell, director of community engagement.

“It’s our biggest fundraising appeal,” said Russell of the fall drive.

“We are especially grateful to employees at Jefferson Healthcare and the Port Townsend paper mill for their support.”

Donations from the mill and Jefferson Healthcare account for more than one-quarter of UGN’s annual campaign, Russell said.

Other fundraisers last year included a summer appeal to specifically raise funds and awareness to address the issues of youth mental health and suicide, “which kind of bubbled up as a really imp issue for the community last year,” Russell said.

Community donations are also vital to support local nonprofits, and funds are welcome any time of the year. (Donate at weareugn.org or call 385-3797.)

UGN donation dollars help change lives, Russell said.

“In my own experience, ECHHO [a UGN-funded organization] has been a reliable safeguard against unspeakable alternatives,” stated Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson in a press release. “Especially in those moments when thinking is distracted by crisis, the ready presence of ECHHO has provided answers when we could barely formulate the questions.

“Over the years, six members of my family have received needed equipment without hesitation. There is no third-party evaluation, no qualifying application, no waiting period or time limits, and in one case, the volunteer was there to assist late at night in the pouring rain,” Stinson said.

APPLICATIONS

UGN currently is accepting applications for funds from programs that provide emergency food, shelter and health care, and to those that provide preventive services, such as early childhood and youth programs.

Applications to receive UGN funding in 2017 are due by Feb. 15. Health and human services organizations serving Jefferson County clients are invited to apply.

First-time applicants are required to fill out a certification form to determine eligibility for funding. Certification forms are due on or before Jan. 16, 2017. Previously funded organizations are asked to update their basic organizational information with their application.

Application forms and information about the allocation process are available online at

weareugn.org. For additional information, call the UGN office at 385-3797.