GoFundMe raises $7,500 for Coast Guard crew

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Although it was discontinued the day the federal government shutdown ended, a GoFundMe drive on behalf of a U.S. Coast Guard crew had raised $7,500 toward its $11,000 goal barely more than a week after it started.

Deborah Mead of Port Townsend started a GoFundMe account for locally stationed Coast Guard personnel Jan. 17, one day after Port Townsend American Legion Post 26 hosted the members of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Osprey for dinner.

Andrew Okinczyc, finance officer for Post 26, presented Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Jennings with Safeway cards for the cutter’s 11 crew members Jan. 16, and Mead’s fundraiser did the same for the Osprey crew when her friend, Dave Maxwell, an Air Force Vietnam veteran, noted the need, especially for the home-ported Osprey crew.

“He said, ‘They sure are hurting right now,’” Mead said. “He told us he was sailing to kick in a couple of hundred bucks, and my husband and I were willing to do the same. Somehow, I found myself in charge of this.”

Following Mead and Maxwell’s conversation at 1 p.m. that day, Mead estimated she’d raised enough money to purchase grocery gift cards for each crew member aboard the Osprey by 5 p.m.

While Mead’s initial contact was her sister at the Safe Harbor Recovery Center, the donations from Safe Harbor were supplemented by AA Complete Solutions, Maxwell’s and Mead Buzz, Pane d’Amore Artisan Bakery, Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Shop and the Bayview Restaurant.

Since Mead’s husband worked for the government for 40 years as a civilian naval engineer, he knew direct cash donations to crew members would not be allowed, so the GoFundMe drive will donate its proceeds to the crew in the form of Visa prepaid cash cards.

“And we know everyone’s got an opinion, but this is non-political,” Mead said. “We’re doing this solely to support our local Coast Guard and show them our gratitude.”

Among the fundraiser’s chief contributors are Steve Moore with $1,000, and former Jefferson County District Court Judge Jill Landes with $1,100.

“Every little bit helps in this time of need for the women and men protecting our local waterways,” Landes wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Please give what you can.”

Jennings expressed his gratitude to the GoFundMe drive but clarified any direct cash donations intended for the Coast Guard need to be made through its Chief Petty Officers Association, because the CPOA is a nonprofit organization that’s authorized to disseminate those funds to the local Coast Guard and its dependent families.

“It’s been extremely gratifying to see Port Townsend and Port Ludlow come together in this time of need for our Coasties,” Jennings said. “The outpouring of love and support has been humbling.”

As soon as the government shutdown ended, Mead shut down the GoFundMe page.

She is simply waiting for the last deposits to clear before she passes them onto the Osprey crew.

“I did make sure to update the page to clarify that we are not officially affiliated with the Coast Guard,” Mead said.

Jennings said if the Coast Guard receives any further donations, they’ll go straight into the CPOA fund to be distributed in the future as needed.

“Even though we’re getting paid again now, we might not be in three weeks,” Jennings said. “And even if we continue to be paid, we often do fundraisers throughout the year to help our struggling members.”

Jennings said junior enlisted personnel often don’t have the savings to cover unexpected family or other emergencies.

“If a relative passes away and they need to arrange travel home, we can help cover that,” Jennings said. “We’re not just going to pass out these funds for the sake of passing them out.”

Jennings plans to invite the community to an open house on board the Osprey now that the government shutdown is resolved.

“We’d like to treat folks to hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks, and give them a look at our ship to tell them thanks for their generosity,” Jennings said. “It would be a way of giving back to those who gave us so much.”

Quilcene VFW supports Coast Guard Port Angeles

Orville Fisk, commander of Quilcene Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3213, presented a check for $2,000 on Jan. 24 to Cmdr. Scott Jackson of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Port Angeles.

Fisk and Quartermaster Alex Alexander represented the Quilcene VFW, which leases the building it owns to the Loggers Landing restaurant at 295023 Highway 101.

Fisk said that monthly income helps to supply the post with funds it uses to provide community support.

“They’re going to divvy that up to their lower-ranked people,” Fisk said. “They’re the ones who are having the toughest time.”

Fisk, 89, said he served in the Marshall Islands in the 1950s when the United States was testing hydrogen bombs.

“We’ve been in the service ourselves,” he said. “We know what tough times you can have.”