The Lopez Island Family Resource Center was launched in 1997 by a Washington State Readiness to Learn Grant. It began as an isolated community’s effort to address the needs of its youth. At the time, more than 50 percent of the island’s children lived in poverty, many without adequate housing, nutrition or health care. As LIFRC began offering support services to those children and their families, it became apparent that a plethora of other social issues were going unaddressed – families facing issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, mental health issues, or simply the affects of social and geographical isolation had many needs and little support due to the lack of resources offered on Lopez Island. As the LIFRC’s staff, board and volunteers recognized the absence of critical support services, the organization evolved and grew in response to the community’s needs. The programs that are facilitated by and through the LIFRC today reach more than 90% of the islands’ youth, and a large percentage of their families and community members. Not only does the LIFRC provide a critical safety net for families in crisis, it continually works to help families improve their ability to access community resources, with the ultimate goal being the promotion of family self-sufficiency
Time line
1997 Readiness to Learn Program
1998 Mentor Program, Family Support Program, Holiday Giving Program.
1999 Peer Helper Program, Kids Summer workshops
2000 Mother Me Program and Parenting Classes, After School Programs, Respite Care.
2001 School Family Lunches.
2002 AmeriCorps Program
2003 Girls Group Program, Skate Park, DEPA Program, Lopez Fresh Energy Assistance Program
2004 Technology Lab, Notre Dame Internships, Pumpkin carving.
2005 English Language Learner Program
2006 Digital Media Classes at school
2007 Small Business Classes, Primary Intervention Program, Youth Services Program.
2008 Financial Literacy Programs
2009 Baby, Toddlers and Me Program
2010 to present Communities Connect Network Project, Parenting Teens Workshops
Thank Yous
Medina Foundation, United Way of San Juan County, Harvest Foundation, Glaser Foundation, Whitney Foundation, Lucky Seven Foundation, Elmer F. Pierson Foundation, Biem Foundation and especially to our local individual and business donors
