Need a Miracle? Look no further than Coupeville.

Small Miracles Medical Support Fund now exists to help offer people in the Coupeville area a safety net for medically-related costs.

The fund will serve people living in the 98239 area or those in the Coupeville School District section of 98277. It is meant to help defray costs of doctors, laboratory tests, hospital and at-home care, screening exams, travel expenses, remodeling needed for disabled persons and other temporary bills related to health care.

Medical bills aren’t just a worry for the poor, Small Miracles board member Vern Olsen points out.

“People can simply be working to make ends meet, or saving money but it’s budgeted for something else. If there are sudden medical bills, that can be quite the blow,” he said.

Small Miracles came about after a group of friends looking for simplicity had an epiphany.

Olsen and his wife, Martha, belong to a group called Simple Living.

“We meet and talk about making life less cumbersome, whether it be by accumulating less stuff, getting rid of stuff or finding ways to make life easier and more meaningful,” Olsen said.

Almost two years ago, a number of people in the group had sudden medical bills for themselves or a loved one.

The Olsens — who support the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund of South Whidbey — immediately thought, “Coupeville needs something like Friends of Friends.”

By chance they ran into Lynn Willeford, Friends founder and past director, and told her their idea.

“Her mouth was wide open,” Olsen said.

Willeford told the Olsens that Friends, which specifically serves South Whidbey residents only, frequently receives calls from up north. She even had it in mind that Vern and Martha Olsen would be the perfect people to help get a support network going up north.

“It was amazing to be on the same wavelength,” Olsen said.

The couple began calling friends and other “like-minded people.”

They were able to find Small Miracles President Jackie Henderson, Secretary Julia Hodson, Treasurer Martha Olsen, and board members Millie Fonda, Ann Henley, Dolly Lister, Vern Olsen, Joyce Peterson and Emily Ramsey.

Spring 2005 Olsen helped organize a concert as a benefit for the fledgling fund. Held at the Coupeville Methodist Church, the concert featured artist David Roth and a lot of introductory talk of starting a Coupeville medical support fund.

“Lots of positive feedback and people who signed up to help came out of that day,” Olsen said.

And a generous donation, too. Roth returned half of his fee.

“He said he appreciated what we were doing,” Olsen said.

Medical support funds are something that are near and dear to Olsen.

Years ago his good friend Jim Davis was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“It was such a shock. He was one of the healthiest guys ever, never ate anything wrong and lived an impeccable life,” Olsen said.

With rising medical costs looming, Davis was able to get assistance from Friends of Friends. Davis lost his battle with cancer, but his legacy of one-time need lives on for Olsen.

“His situation happens to so many people,” Olsen said.

“People may think that they can make it, but you never know — that’s why we’re here,” said Millie Fonda, who intakes all the calls and applications Small Miracles receives.

When health crisis occur, it’s the little things such as transportation costs that add up, Fonda said.

Olsen gets excitable when realizing the tally of costs to families and realizing that he can help.

“They’re not thinking of the little things, but those are exactly the Small Miracles we’re looking to make happen,” he said.

Fonda said that each application is considered and the board looks to see if they’ve already exhausted all other possibilities.

“Friends of Friends has a $100,000-a-year budget,” Olsen said. “We’re much smaller, only less than a tenth of that.”

Olsen said that every applicant thus far has received some sort of support from Small Miracles.

In addition to getting the word out to potential people in need, Small Miracles is also working to ensure what funds exists get a little longevity.

Organizers are urging the community to contribute to this organization now to help keep ahead of the demand of those in need.

“Many times, as we’re seeing with Friends of Friends, people who receive help will come back later and give,” Olsen said. “It may be years down the line before they realize it, but one day they’ll say ‘Hey, it’s now our time to help, let’s help pay it back.’”

Small Miracles also wants people to help people find their niche resources.

“So many times there are people who don’t quite fit with what one group is able to do, but there are others out there that could help them,” Olsen said. “We want to be that safety net that will help them get in the right direction.”

Help Small Miracles

To learn more about receiving

assistance from Small Miracles, or how you can help contribute to the fund, contact the following:

Small Miracles

Coupeville Medical Support Fund

PO BOX 912

Coupeville, WA 98239

Phone: 672-5651