Submitted by United Way

In response to community interest in helping San Juan County’s 58 or more homeless — and 46 or more at risk of becoming homeless, here are some ways you can help on your island and/or throughout San Juan county:

• Donate to your islands’ family resource center’s emergency fund, rental assistance funds, and funds for ferry tickets for medical appointments and other off-island requirements.

• Consider taking in renters so that islanders have shelter this winter and can continue to work here.

• Donate to your family resource center’s expanded case management program to better serve those who are experiencing homelessness.

• Volunteer: United Way of San Juan County is seeking committed volunteers to work with our religious institutions and senior centers on establishing and supporting emergency shelter for the homeless for next winter.

They would like to use a model program from Whatcom Interfaith Coalition that was implemented on Orcas last year.

Barbara Gurley, Lopez Family Resource Center director, writes:

“In many ways, the holidays are an idyllic and magical time of the year on Lopez. However, for financially struggling families, the holiday season is often stressful and troubling. Thirty-two percent of our island households (thirty-four percent on Lopez) do not have enough income for food, housing, electricity and other basic needs, and around the holidays, this number tends to be particularly high. Not only do they have higher household expenses, such as heating bills, but families who qualify for free or reduced lunch for their children at school are faced with two or three weeks without this assistance during school holidays.”

Places to donate to help our Family Resource Centers and schools to support the immediate needs of our homeless and islanders in situations of poverty.

Lopez Island

Lopez Island Family Resource Center and Lopez Fresh Food Bank

160 Village Road/P.O. Box 732, Lopez Island, WA 98261

Phone: (360) 468-4117

lifrc@rockisland.com

County-wide

You can also donate to United Way of San Juan County, where your donation can be distributed to help fill the needs at the family resource centers and schools on all three islands, or you can earmark your funds for a specific island or project.

• United Way has a current need for committed tutors on all three islands to work M-Th from 3-4:30 p.m.

• United Way is always seeking volunteers on each island to help us carry out our community initiatives, which get to the root of our communities’ challenges while providing a safety net for those who need our help the most.

Our focus in 2017 is stable and healthy children and families, including:

• Ongoing support of our twenty or more island nonprofits

• Homelessness and affordable housing

• Support to children who are at risk of falling behind in school.

United Way of San Juan County

P.O. Box 3181

Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Phone: (360)-378-4121

unitedwaysjc@rockisland.com

www.unitedway-sanjuancounty.org