By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The founder of a local veterans organization will soon be moving to another part of the country, but the organization and his legacy to the community will go on.
Matt Rainwater, an army veteran, retired Border Patrol agent, former candidate for State Representative, and the founder of Pennies For Quarters, will be moving with his wife Debbie this summer to Tennessee.
Rainwater established his non-profit Pennies For Quarters in 2016, with the goal of building a tiny home village in the Port Angeles area to temporarily house homeless veterans while they help them get back on their feet. His organization purchased a piece of property for the project near the airport and is currently fundraising to develop the site and begin construction.
“We continue to move forward. We have our engineer that is finalizing the plans to be able to present to the hearing examiner for approval. Once we get that done, we’ll start working on grants to help raise the money that we’re going to need to be able to develop the property that we own and start building.”
He says he’s looking for the right candidates to join the Board of Directors and help regain the momentum that was stymied by the pandemic.
“We do need more veterans. I would love to have more veterans on the board that are willing to step up, to make sure that the mission for Pennies For Quarters will continue to move forward and help those who have been willing to put their lives on the line for this nation, to give them the resources that they need to be able to go back to leading productive lives.”
Rainwater wanted to remind folks that Pennies For Quarters will be hosting their biggest fundraiser in August, the annual golf tournament at the Cedars at Dungeness.
“It always winds up being a big event. We are going to have entertainment lined up, and then games and stuff like that on the course. So, that’s become our signature event. From what I understand, we’re one of the only golf tournaments that actually incorporates live music into the award ceremony, so people will be able to hang out and dance. They can come out, even if they don’t golf, they can still come out, enjoy the music, and support the cause.”
More details on the golf tournament will be forthcoming on the Pennies For Quarters Facebook page.