This year I have decided instead of giving gifts, I will give a charitable donation in the name of person I wish to gift, excepting grandchildren.

I know to look for a charity that has no or minimal administrative costs; and, for me, it’s important that it be local to my new home in Port Townsend. It’s called Olympic Neighbors. I discovered them last summer at the Pourhouse where the folks from Olympic Neighbors were in the midst of a fund raiser with a great band. I learned that night that Olympic Neighbors is a group of local people working on opening a home for developmentally disadvantaged people where they can live with other adults independent of their families and grow in maturity and self sustainability.

Apparently this home would be the first of its kind in Jefferson County and is based on a Camphill Community model where the individuality and spiritual integrity of each human being is recognized, and lovingly nourished in the context of a home.

The second time I encountered this group was at the Uptown farmers market. They had a booth in which one of the hopeful future residents was crushing cans with a home made can crusher. With each can crushed, he sported a big smile of self-satisfaction. The booth was manned with volunteers giving out information and collecting donations. I learned that morning that the organization is all volunteer and that their goal is to raise $120,000 in order to enable the future home to open and be fully functional by this coming Spring.

Today, as I write this letter, is Black Friday. I am happy to forgo the madness and know that my gifts this year will sow good seed.

Peace and joy,

HOPE FELLOWS

Port Townsend