"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

The past year has been one of positive change and growth for the Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC). We were grateful to bring additional staff members on board to specialize in assistance areas such as housing, utilities, health, food and more to meet the growing needs of our community. In 2022, the number of services OCRC provided was double that of 2019.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end,” a quote by Seneca, represents our most recent transition. OCRC bids a fond farewell to Programs Director, Jana Daniel-Webb. We are thankful for Jana’s seven years of service to OCRC and her remarkable compassion for islanders in need. Jana’s commitment to the organization helped grow our capacity over the past several years playing an important part in where we are today. The OCRC team wishes Jana all the best in her

future endeavors.

As though the island’s energy was looking out for our community, stepping in to fill big shoes is Larry Hughes. Larry isn’t completely new to OCRC. He previously worked as a therapist through our Community Wellness Program, served a term on the OCRC Board, and led our Shelter Group working with unsheltered clients during the Covid outbreak and many months following.

Larry is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and moved to Orcas nine years ago after experiencing the natural beauty and peace the island offers. He was ready for a change from New York City, where he’d spent decades working with the homeless. Once settled here on Orcas, Larry had in mind that he would transition to working with island seniors. However, like many newcomers, he never expected to find the level of poverty, substance abuse, and homelessness present here just as in mainland cities.

Larry has also worked as a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) and is a veteran, having served in the US Army. With a heart of gold and skills beyond measure, as OCRC’s Case Manager, he looks to provide the kind of support and assistance he would have liked to have found in his younger and most vulnerable years. We are so happy to have Larry as part of our OCRC team. 

Welcome Larry!

Have you ever wondered how to get a better handle on your finances; had questions you didn’t know where to go for answers; or wanted someone to sit with you and listen to your concerns? Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) aims to help islanders sharpen their financial skills providing security for a more stable future. OCRC is nearing completion with their first group of participants in the pilot financial literacy program known as Orcas Money Smart (OMS). OMS is a nine month program that teaches the basics of budgeting, savings, banking, housing decisions,

debt, credit, disaster

preparedness & more.

The material covered provides valuable knowledge to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. A young islander joining class with the hope of learning more about credit, found that OMS offered exactly that and more. They shared, “It was eye opening to find out just how many aspects of life that credit scores affect. I learned to be aware of that as well as increasing my understanding of banking systems and finances.”

During the first six weeks class meets every two weeks in person at OCRC to cover key topics. After that, additional class sessions are held once a month. Throughout this period participants have regular meetings with an assigned mentor to dive deeper into their individual goals. This format has worked well as a safe group space with the ability for mentees to explore more personal goals alongside their mentors. Participants also have the opportunity to earn as they learn with a financial bonus by successfully attending training, mentor meetings and completing goals.

Orcas Money Smart incorporates what is known as SMART goals. The "SMART" in SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This approach helps to set a clear timeline and track progress. One student enrolled in class hoping to address her inability to get a secure handle on her finances. She shared, “I have gained the tools to break down any financial situation into manageable steps for success. I can apply smart goals to many aspects of my life in the future. I wish I would have had the opportunity to take this class when I was younger.”

Volunteer class mentors have received their own share of rewards by participating in OMS. Patricia Benton, OCRC Board Chair, led this pilot class along with fellow board member, Hugh Grant. Patricia shared, “This has been a great way to connect with others to help make a difference in an area of their lives that can oftentimes be stressful.” Seeing participants gain confidence and achieve their goals affirms that time invested as a program mentor is most certainly time well spent.

OCRC aims to launch the program in full swing with another group of students and mentors this fall. If you are interested in being a part of Orcas Money Smart as either a student or a volunteer mentor, please contact OCRC at 

360-376-3184 or info@orcascrc.org.

Housing insecurity is a term we hear a lot lately. But what does it mean, whom does it affect, and what can you do about it? “Housing insecurity” is an umbrella term that encompasses several dimensions of housing problems people may experience, including affordability, safety, quality, insecurity, and loss of housing.

Whether it's difficulty paying rent, overcrowded living conditions, eviction, or homelessness, housing insecurity exposes individuals and families to increased stress as well as mental and physical health problems. Housing insecurity can affect anyone, but disproportionately affects lower income families, as they often have to pay higher proportions of their income for high cost rent.

According to the US Dept of Health & Human Services, households are considered to be cost burdened if they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Cost-burdened households have little left over each month to spend on other necessities such as food, clothing, utilities, and health care.

With more than 10% of Orcas Island households living below the poverty line and 40% not earning enough to make ends meet, the reality is that hiding beneath the island’s surface is an intense need for help just to get by. So many of our neighbors are forced to make impossible decisions: pay the rent or put food on the table, keep the lights and heat on or receive necessary medical care.

While OPAL works to provide affordable housing on Orcas, OCRC serves as a vital resource providing housing support services. Knowledgeable staff connect islanders with both contracted programs and in-house services that include short term rental assistance, housing assistance grants, support for the unsheltered, housing application help, utility assistance, hygiene & cleaning items, food, clothing, showers, & more.  As a safety net for Orcas Island, OCRC strives to help residents meet essential housing needs.

OCRC provided 6,828 Housing Support services to community members in 2022, representing 38% of our total services. Our goal is to increase OCRC’s capacity to help islanders with critical housing needs. Oftentimes people are unaware that help is available. Reaching out to connect with the services OCRC provides can be life-altering. OCRC is here for the community with doors open to reassure clients that they are not alone when facing a challenge or crisis. 

Summer is waning and that means school is just around the corner! If you are a family with school aged students, here is a list of resources to help get the year started off right!

Immunization Clinic

Wednesday, August 23rd, 3-6pm in the OISD cafeteria. Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed. No one will be denied services due to inability to pay. Call 360.378.4474 for more details.

Athletic Fees Assistance Program

The Orcas Community Resource Center and OI Boosters have partnered together to support families in need of assistance with athletic expenses. If sports-related expenses for your student-athlete stretch your family, please email the OI Booster Club at oiboosters@gmail.com or the Resource Center at info@orcascrc.org.

Apply for Free & Reduced school meals

Contact the OISD office to see if your household qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals - you may also be eligible for decreased fees to participate in sports or other school programs.

Teen Tent at the Orcas Food Bank 

Throughout the school year, the Food Bank encourages students to stop by their Teen Tent to grab a quick snack or lunch item. Age-appropriate food items are offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am-2pm. 

Get ready for winter!

Is your child in need of warm winter gear? Keep an eye out for the annual Sons of the American Legion (SOAL) shoe drive. Look for details from OISD. As fall approaches, coats will be available through the Resource Center’s Coates Closet program. Stay tuned! 

Orcas Elementary hosts “Start Write Night”

Tuesday, August 29th, 5:30-6:30pm for students in grades K-5 at OISD Elementary. Families are invited to visit classrooms & teachers while having the chance to complete paperwork for the year. Local organizations will be onsite with helpful resources for families.

Funhouse After School Program

Starting Tuesday, September 5th - for students in grades 1-5. Funhouse staff pick up students from the public school, then head to The Funhouse for group games, activities, and free-play. This program runs Monday-Friday, 3:15 pm-5:30 pm, early start time of 2:15 pm on Wednesdays. Pick up between 5-5:30 pm.

Orcas Island Park & Rec Fall Programs Start SOON!

Choir, after school art, soccer and MORE! Visit orcasparkandrec.org for a full list of activities - many beginning in September!

College students - fill out the FAFSA in December

Students planning on attending college in the fall of 2024 can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Apply at studentaid.gov to be considered for federal financial aid. The application period begins in December 2023, rather than October as in previous years. 

The Orcas Community Resource Center’s mission is to foster a healthy community by connecting Orcas Islanders with the services needed to thrive and achieve equitable well-being. We’re here to help! 

Did you know that September is Healthy Aging Month? Reaching old age is quite an accomplishment and something to be thankful for. However, in many ways there are several challenges facing today’s elderly, such as ageism, financial insecurity, finding the right care provisions, and accessing healthcare services. These are some of the biggest hurdles that elderly people face. The Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) offers support and strives to help seniors age with dignity. 

With age comes a multitude of different living needs. OCRC recognizes that the elderly population is a treasured part of our community. Maintaining a strong support network is essential in order to ensure long term wellness. We embrace our island’s most vulnerable populations and are here for all islanders that find themselves needing a little help.

One recent success story involves a disabled senior client who was in need of help coordinating transportation to a last minute off island medical appointment. Through OCRC community transportation partners, staff scheduled a roundtrip ride to the ferry and arranged for mainland taxi transport. Assistance allowed this senior to get safely to and from their essential medical appointment.

Some OCRC clients need multiple levels of assistance to address their life challenges. Other times, a single simple request for help gives clients a way forward. Regardless of the scope, we are here to help support our neighbors on their path to physical and mental health, stable housing, food security and more.

More than half the population of Orcas is over the age of 55. We are proactive in providing a welcoming and resource based approach for our elderly. OCRC, along with other community partners such as the Orcas Senior Center, San Juan County and the Orcas Island Food Bank, partner together to make this happen. We encourage our senior clients to learn about the many valuable programs and services offered through OCRC and our community partners.

OCRC clients are community members and important contributors to island life. The work we do makes Orcas a better place for all of us. Together we help islanders transition to more resilient and successful lives. If you, a family member, or someone you know are in need - please contact us today!

The Orcas Community Resource Center’s mission is to foster a healthy community by connecting Orcas Islanders with the services needed to thrive and achieve equitable well-being. We’re here to help! 

In recent years, more and more women are breaking through the glass ceiling and taking on leadership roles in various fields. This increase is not only important for diversity and inclusivity in the business world, but also brings a variety of outlooks and new ideas to the table. 

The Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) connects islanders with critical resources to help pay bills, put food on the table, and obtain essential medical and mental healthcare. 

We are fortunate to have an exceptional group of women rounding out our team with a multitude of backgrounds and unique perspectives. These women support and uplift each other, creating a positive ripple effect within our organization and the Orcas community.

What makes this particular group a force to be reckoned with? The following is a compilation of some of their diverse life experiences:

• Has an art studio in Olga
• Ran the 200 mile Oregon Hood-to-Coast Relay from Mt. Hood to Seaside
• Served in the Air Force for 22 years as a jet engine mechanic
• At age 40, was the only female executive reporting into a global Fortune 100 CEO 
• Went skydiving for her 60th birthday in Australia with her two daughters
• Has visited 52 countries around the world
• Biked across the country (Seattle to Maine) with her dad
• Coached a world champion team in Math Olympiads for elementary schools
• Lived in Ecuador for 2 years volunteering in an orphanage
• Provided translation for an organization supporting refugees
• Lived and worked in a small rural community to rebuild native forest habitats
• Has family members spanning 4 generations living in her home
• Has traveled to 48 states
• Is a proprietor at a local historic inn
• Is trained as a birth doula
• Loves to play video games with her family
• Owned and operated a successful restaurant
• Was a body painting model
• Camped on Mt. Rainier in a snow shelter she built with her dad and two brothers 
• Former VP of Operations for Hewlett Packard
• Former rugby coach
• Had a 40+ year career as a Labor Law Attorney
• Is a volunteer EMT with Orcas Island Fire & Rescue
• Was a middle school English & Music teacher and taught piano for 40 years
• Owns a local distillery

The women of OCRC, as well as our entire team of dedicated professionals, consistently strive to foster a healthy community by connecting Orcas Islanders with the services needed to thrive and achieve equitable well-being. 

Hygiene poverty is a hidden crisis. Buying the basics like toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, or diapers when we need them is something most of us take for granted. For many living on a fixed income or with limited wage earning capacity, these essential products have become out of reach luxuries. We all make financial choices, but for those living in poverty these choices can be extremely grim.

In addition, unexpected events can change the course of ANY of our lives. Losing a job, having an accident, or battling a sudden health condition, can erode the security we come to rely on and leave people struggling.

Hygiene poverty comes with a social stigma that affects all areas of life, work, school and relationships. It is oftentimes a silent struggle impacting confidence and self esteem, potentially discouraging people from accessing education and employment – the very things that can help them move forward.

Strengthening a community’s hygienic health results in many benefits. The Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) established the Coates Cabinet program in 2017 to combat hygiene poverty and promote wellness. Each month, clients may choose an allotment of essential household and personal hygiene products from current inventory. Islanders are eligible to participate if they are a current client of the Orcas Food Bank or the Resource Center. Together with your help along with much-appreciated support from the Coates Family Foundation, we provide a safety net for islanders in need. 

Access to hygiene products help entire households improve their quality of life. If you’re in a position to help, please consider dropping off new unexpired personal care/cleaning products (toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, baby wipes, deodorant, laundry soap, etc). A comprehensive list of our inventory can be found HERE.

As an offshoot of Coates Cabinet, we developed Coates Closet, a winter gear program for those in need. Throughout the month of November, on Tuesdays from 1-4pm (or by appointment), islanders finding it hard to make ends meet can receive a winter coat along with other items that may be available such as gloves, hats, scarves and socks.

A special thank you to our Coates Cabinet volunteers, John & Will, for kindly helping shoppers each month. Recently, neighbors that stopped by were in for an extra tasty treat - soup and fixings prepared and served by Chef Raymond from the Kingfish at Westsound. Thanks Raymond for your surprise visit!

Supporting the Resource Center's Coates programs is a simple way to help our community stay healthier throughout the year and a little warmer over the cold winter months. If you have the means to help, we gladly accept the above mentioned items in new condition. General donations to support programs like these and all the work of OCRC can be made HERE.

The Orcas Community Resource Center’s mission is to foster a healthy community by connecting Orcas Islanders with the services needed to thrive and achieve equitable well-being. We’re here to help!

December 10th, marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - a document serving as a global guide for freedom and equality. Fundamental human rights, intrinsic to our existence, uphold the dignity and value of each individual. Ranging from the essential right to life to the elements that enrich life, such as education, work, health, and liberty, these universal rights are integral to us all.

Article 25 emphasizes that no one should fall below a certain level, advocating for a standard of living conducive to health and well-being. This encompasses rights to adequate food, water, sanitation, clothing, housing and medical care. Aligning closely with the core values and mission of the Orcas Community Resource Center, to connect Orcas Islanders with the services needed to thrive and achieve equitable well-being.

The Resource Center, operating as a flexible and culturally sensitive hub, focuses on enhancing the quality of life for island residents. By providing resources, support, and programs tailored to the needs of the community, the center aims to uplift and empower Orcas residents. Shifting islanders from struggling to thriving creates a ripple effect, allowing them to play a valuable part in enhancing our community.

Recognizing that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met, the Resource Center stands ready to assist. If you, or someone you know, requires support, please do not hesitate to reach out.