In this issue of Good Works, we highlight organizations that make life better in Jefferson County / Port Townsend. A remarkable characteristic of this place is that there are so many, more than we can possibly list here.

Which is not to say there aren’t people in our community who still struggle. There are. But for many, help is available in forms of transportation, health care, pet care, meals.

In addition to those Samaritans who focus on shelters and health and the wounds of hard despair, there are other organizations that perform good works we often don’t hear or think about.

Jefferson Search and Rescue has saved lives in the rugged and remote terrain of Jefferson County, which includes portions of the Olympic mountains, since 1976. JSAR has responded to 30 search and rescue missions so far this year.

When you think of 4-H, do you think of pigs, sheep and goats at the county fair? The 121-year-old organization is so much more. Last year, 86 youths, ages 5-19 years, participated in local 4-H groups learning about many things, from horses, rabbits and reptiles to jewelry-making and robotics.

While the Audubon Society retains a focus on birds, the organization also is concerned with the environment that supports avian communities, the “many things related to protecting habitat and educating people about the native plants’ role in supporting birds and wildlife.”

Olympic Angels are focused on children living in or coming out of difficult family environments. The state does what it can, but the need is greater than funds or the number of personnel. From showing smiles to a baby to helping a 16-year old get a driver’s license, Olympic Angels offers a helping hand.

Eccho provides health care equipment to people in need, as well as transportation, partnering in the non-profit community with other well-known providers including the Olympic Area Agency on Aging, (O3A), Olycap, United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County, Jefferson Healthcare and First Presbyterian Church of Port Townsend. From walkers to wheel chairs to trips to Seattle care facilities, ECCHO is here to help out.

A call to the Humane Society will often be passed on to Pet Helpers Port Townsend, a local non-profit that exists “to provide access to veterinary care for the pets of those who cannot otherwise afford it. A pet can be a lifeline for a person facing homelessness, disability, or crisis, and is often the only living being that loves them. So when we save a pet, we save a person too.”

These stories are in this issue of Good Works, but there are many, many more. We hope readers will find here an organization they can support with donations or volunteer time, or find a place to turn if in need.