Chaplains on the Harbor, a nonprofit that provides services, shelters and job training for people in recovery, is asking the community to sponsor a staff member. This fundraising effort is an effort to create a more sustainable and stable funding source for its services.

“Nonprofits rely on the funding of donors, but those funds can be unstable,” said Dennis Tierney, “Sponsoring a staff member will provide a more sustainable and stable funding source and help us continuing to help our neighbors recover and thrive”

For over 10 years Chaplains on the Harbor has helped those experiencing homelessness, incarceration and substance use disorder in Grays Harbor. Services include the Westport cold weather shelter and day center, street outreach to support those experiencing homelessness — helping them access resources.

The most recent effort is the Harbor Roots farm that provides job skills training for people in recovery. Produce from Harbor Roots is given to food banks, provides food for shelters and serves as a revenue stream for Chaplains. Many people who have been supported by Chaplains have stayed sober, gotten jobs, found housing and are thriving.

“Chaplains saved my life. I remember when I was homeless on the street and seeing the good they were doing, I thought to myself, ‘I want to do that someday. I want to help people get off the streets,’” said Kathee Delaney, who now runs Chaplains’ street outreach program. “It was a long journey. But now I am sober. I have a home. I have my life back. Now I can pay it forward by helping others connect to resources and get clean and under a roof. I have been there, and they can relate to me.”

To help sponsor a staff member, go to https://chaplainsontheharbor.org/ and sign up for monthly giving. For more information, contact Barb Weza by calling 360-637-9962.