COVID this week in the San Juans: A look at the resource centers
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 15, 2020
As the entire nation faces the realities of life during a global pandemic, the local resource centers have kicked it into high gear to help those living in the islands.
“We’re all experiencing a pandemic, which is affecting the entire globe. Stress, fear, confusion, anger — these are all normal emotions to feel when facing a crisis such as COVID-19,” said Orcas Community Resource Center Outreach and Communication Specialist Zanetha Matisse. “Fortunately, we’re all in this together, on this special island we call home. If you’re lonely, scared, or worried, know that you’re not alone. We’re here for you.”
San Juan Island
The San Juan Island Family Resource Center has been working on a few projects over the past few weeks, according to Director Jennifer Armstrong. One such program is the Home Delivery System.
“The FRCs have partnered with San Juan County Health & Community Services to set up a safe, responsive delivery system for highly vulnerable islanders without family or social support networks,” Armstrong said. “San Juan Island School District provides buses and drivers to help our staff deliver food bank items, household cleaning and hygiene supplies, prescription medications, groceries, children’s books and educational enrichment activities.”
Another project of SJIFRC is the 36 Weekends program, which supplies food for children on weekends — this program already existed when the COVID crisis began, Armstrong explained. When the FRC needed assistance, the San Juan Island Rotary Club and private donors stepped in to help with funds. There are 49 children ages 3-13 participating in the program currently, Armstrong said.
SJIFRC also began distributing funds in March to assist community members in paying rent, utilities and other critical needs. Armstrong added that the program was made possible through both resource center funds as well as partnerships with the county government, the San Juan Island Community Foundation, Orcas Power and Light Cooperative and the Town of Friday Harbor.
The resource center has also helped qualifying households enroll in Washington Apple Health so health insurance doesn’t lapse as well as provided income-based counseling through video and phone conferencing. Additionally, SJIFRC is sponsoring a series of webinars for frontline essential workers and emergency responders about how to cope with high-stress situations and will soon provide additional webinars for the community at large, according to Armstrong.
The community can help the resource center by donating money as well as hard to find cleaning and hygiene supplies — such as paper towels, toilet paper, facial tissue and spray cleaner. Armstrong also encourages everyone to spent a little time checking in with vulnerable neighbors to see if they need anything.
For more information, call SJIFRC at 360-378-5246 or visit www.sjifrc.org for any San Juan Islanders in need of household assistance or family supports.
Orcas Island
Orcas Community Resource Center’s client intake as quadrupled in the past few weeks, according to Matisse. And the center is anticipating that number to continue to rise, she added.
“The staff at the Orcas Community Resource Center has been hard at work in our continuing mission to help Orcas Islanders in need by accessing services and support for their wellbeing,” Matisse said.
OCRC is matching community members with social services such as food stamps and unemployment insurance, Matisse explained. The organization is also helping new and existing clients pay for rent and energy bills as well as providing mental health referrals and more.
“We’re partnering with various island organizations, coalitions and task forces to house and feed our island’s most vulnerable neighbors,” Matisse said. “We’re routinely reaching out to our clients, particularly our seniors and those in quarantine, to ensure they’re getting the medication, supplies, and help they need during this crisis.”
The resource center’s Coates’ Cabinet is available to OCRC clients, as well as to those who utilize the Orcas Island Food Bank. On the first and third Tuesday of the month, islanders may pickup personal hygiene and cleaning supplies from the cabinet.
The community can assist the resource center by donating funds via the Orcas Island Community Foundation’s GiveOrcas catalog at www.giveorcas.org or they can donate to the center directly.
“Our staff is working longer hours, and our supplies are running low,” Matisse noted.
For more information about OCRC, visit www.orcascrc.org, call 360-376-3184, or email a staff member — current clients can email Jana Webb at jana@orcascrc.org; new clients can contact Holly Southern at holly@orcascrc.org; or for general information, email info@orcascrc.org.
“You can also help us by helping others. If you know of someone in need of our services, please reach out,” Matisse said. “We’re here for our community and we’re here for you.”
Lopez Island
Lopez Island Family Resource Center is helping more than 300 Lopezian families during the COVID crisis, according to Executive Director Barbara Schultheiss.
“LIFRC services are defined as essential services by the governor, so staff and volunteers are still working hard with many community partners and businesses to support the community with the supports they need in creative but safe new ways,” said Schultheiss.
The resource center has teamed up with the Grace Church Food Bank to become a delivery service, bringing bread, dairy, eggs, produce, soup and other non-perishable goods to more than 140 island houses.
Working with San Juan County, Lopez Island School District, Senior Services, Lopez Island Hospice and Home Care and other community organizations, LIFRC has helped to implement a home delivery for high-risk and vulnerable community members.
Coordinating with 19 local restaurants and farmers to buy food and produce to support both the business and economy thanks to generous donors. The program simultaneously provides healthy food to low-income vulnerable community members.
“We greatly appreciate our donors being an integral part of our rapid response team making it possible for us to care for the island’s needs,” Schultheiss said.
Additionally, LIFRC staff is surveying the more than 300 households it currently serves as well as new clients to establish their need both short term and long. Staff also continues to aid people to enroll in food stamps (Basic Food) and health insurance, as well as helping to provide mortgage, rent and utility assistance.
The resource center is also calling high risk, vulnerable individuals to check-in on them as well as connecting volunteers to isolated residents.
“We are coordinating with other community members to implement a Telephone Buddy System for volunteers to connect with isolated individuals to have some socialization, get reassurance and make new friends,” Schultheiss explained.
Acknowledging the effects isolation can have on peoples’ mental health, LIFRC has coordinated with local therapists to provide remote counseling sessions. According to Schultheiss, a new program it’s participating in, Open Source Wellness, has shifted its focus to remote gatherings focusing on movement, mindfulness and group conversations sharing gratitude, offers and requests. LIFRC also began hosting a series of six 60-minute workshops regarding COVID stress with Trauma and Resiliency trainer Teresa Posakony.
Finally, LIFRC’s youth mentor program and Girls Empowerment Group have been able to continue staying connected with fun online activities, Schultheiss said.
LIFRC is seeking volunteers under the age of 60 who have no underlying health issues to help with Food Bank and prepared meals bagging and deliveries. Schultheiss expressed gratitude to the community members who have helped so far, including the Enchanted Quilters group, who sewed and donated masks and Denise Clark who made hand sanitizer.
As with the other two centers, residents can help LIFRC by donating money to help the organization buy food, help with rent and utilities, and provide support to the Lopez community. For more information and to sign up for the aforementioned programs, email Contessa Downey at contessa@lifrc.org. You can also visit the organization’s website at www.lifrc.org.
“In this unparalleled time of crisis, your outpouring of love and support to LIFRC has been truly remarkable,” Schultheiss said. “We are blessed to live on this special island with such caring neighbors.”
