A LARGE CROWD, including Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow (center, standing), gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Ridgefield Family Resource Center on Oct. 15.
ALLISON MEADE, Dr. Nathan McCann and Sarah Stuart cut the ribbon at an Oct. 15 ceremony to officially open the Ridgefield Family Resource Center.
RIDGEFIELD – On Oct. 15, Ridgefield School District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Ridgefield Family Resource Center (RFRC); a collaborative effort with Compassion 360 to provide emergency relief services to Ridgefield children and families in need, including clothing, food, and hygiene products.
The RFRC was established as a way to centralize community support services and more effectively assist children and families in need. Ridgefield is the fastest growing city in Washington and the school district is the fastest growing school system in Clark County. Approximately 30 percent of Ridgefield School District students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
“As volunteers, we understand and have experienced seasons of life which are marked by need,’’ said Sarah Stuart, a member of the organizing committee. “We wish to extend a helpful hand to those who find themselves in such a season, just as we were surrounded by loving support when we had a need. Words of encouragement, a helpful hand, and pieces of advice and wisdom; these are all so helpful during difficult seasons of life.”
The idea for the RFRC first was conceived last year during conversations between Ridgefield Superintendent Dr. Nathan McCann and Ridgefield Church of the Nazarene’s former pastor, Dr. Brian Thomas.
“Ridgefield is a rapidly growing community and more diverse than people may realize,’’ McCann said. “We know that in order for students to be ready to learn in school, their basic needs must be met. We were looking for partners who could help us do more than we could on our own to better serve all students.”
This summer, volunteers with Compassion 360, including Stuart and her husband Dan, along with Randy and Allison Meade and Randy and Kari Goode joined McCann to form an organizing committee to continue the work of creating a family resource center.
“Allison and Sarah deserve considerable credit. Their enthusiasm was inspiring, and they were determined to ensure we met our goal of opening on October 15. It could not have happened without their hard work,” said McCann.
The RFRC is housed in the district’s maintenance facility at 304 Pioneer Street and will be open to the public on Thursday’s from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 5-7 p.m. Initially, the RFRC will primarily operate as a distribution center. Staff at the district’s schools who are aware of students who need services from the RFRC can request help. Center volunteers will fulfill the identified needs and deliver materials to the schools for distribution.
Families may also directly contact RFRC staff at rfrc@ridgefieldsd.org, by visiting www.compassion360.org, or calling (360) 901-6439.
The RFRC, which is fully supported by donations and volunteers, has a full list of needs and will be organizing supply drives and donation campaigns going forward. The center also welcomes volunteers looking for an exciting way to get involved and make a difference in the community.
“By serving together, we have gained deep, life-long friendships and look forward to building more friendships through service in the Ridgefield Family Resource Center,” said Allison Meade.
