PNWT President Chris Rieland presents a check for $10,000 to Larry Eyer, executive director of Kitsap Community Resources

Silverdale-based Pacific Northwest Title Company of Kitsap County (PNWT) works for people involved in the purchase of homes. Because of the nature of their business, says Chris Rieland, president and CEO, in 2002 they decided to focus on helping the homeless - those who are “much less fortunate than our customer base.”

That first year, the company contributed some $5,000 for the cause.

In November 2003, they gave $10,000 to Kitsap Community Resources to help those with no homes, in transitional housing or on very limited income.

“Housing is such a basic need,” says Rieland. Yet she is aware of people who must consider, “Should I pay the rent, or for heat, or for food?” These are not “choices” for most people.

Rieland tells about two single moms in transitional housing, no car, no laundry facility within reasonable proximity. PNWT money purchased washers and driers for their housing units.

A 9-year old girl whose favorite color is blue wanted most of all a home, instead of continuing to move a lot or living in a shelter. She considered this both a “want” and a “need.” Some of her wants were a doll, a bike and a Polaroid camera. This child sent a nice thank-you for the house – but even that is temporary.

A 12-year-old boy wrote to thank them for “everything you have blessed us with.”

Families may be only one paycheck from being out in the street. Locally, we don’t see the homeless problem as graphically as those in warmer climates like California. Here, people hide from the elements, living in cars or under bridges when they lack proper shelter.

These people may need training or medication to get them to “the next level” toward success.

Learning of people in the community in such dire straits puts daily work problems into perspective, as well as inspiring added assistance.

Next, many of the title company’s 52 employees themselves chose to help teenagers with multiple needs.

They learned about youth who “couch surf,” staying with one friend after another, with no place to call home.

Referrals come through the alternative high school setting. Rieland stresses that their giving is done in such a way as to preserve each one’s integrity. Referrals may be for students with parents in prison, dealing with drug issues, in counseling.

Again, they seek each one’s input by way of wants and needs. One boy would not fill out a card unless his younger sister could be included. (She was.) Others helped have been young teens who are parents, themselves. Employees also provide these students with “incentive prizes” to encourage positive behaviors.

The generous people working at PNWT went home and shared the challenges of the kids they learned about, and now some of their families have joined in the effort, too.

The resultant pride in their workplace translates to better employee attitudes and better customer service, Rieland says.