BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – The Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula is getting the word out that at least two young men have been impersonating representatives of the Club and collecting donations outside of local retail stores.
Sequim Development Director Janet Gray says they were notified of the activity by a concerned supporter.
“What I’ve learned from some donors that contributed was they were soliciting donations at the Port Angeles Walmart on Sunday, and they inquired with us come Monday morning, and we did some investigating. And they were two young men looking for donations for our music program. But no, these individuals weren’t associated with the club, and the wonderful person in our community that realized it notified us.”
Gray said they later learned that the imposters not only returned to the Port Angeles Walmart on Monday, but were seen soliciting donations at the Sequim Walmart as well.
Police reports have been filed in Sequim and with the Sheriff’s Office, and Gray says she was told investigators were working to get surveillance footage from the stores.
Gray wanted to assure donors that when soliciting gifts, The Boys and Girls Club will always be easy to identify.
“We rely heavily on our community for the support of the clubs, and things like this really kind of set the club back. So, we appreciate donors giving with confidence, and just always know that if our youth are out there, the kids, most of the time, will be branded with the Boys and Girls Club t-shirts. But the staff accompanying them will always be in club attire and have our brand on it. They will also quite frequently have branded donation jars, banners, tents, they will know when they’re giving to the club.”
As a reminder, you can give via a donate button on their website in lieu of cash donations at bgc-op.org.