The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

After receiving a tenth of the funds that United Way usually supplies each year, St. James Family Center has renewed their commitment to their core programs and are relying on donors while looking down alternative avenues for money to sustain the other work that they are doing.

“Childcare and preschool have received priority with the generous donations that have been received thus far,” Beth Hansen, Executive Director of SJFC said. “Those programs will continue to be provided as planned.”

With summer coming, the Youth Adventure Program (YAP) is much on the minds of the Board of Directors. According to Hansen, YAP is a summer program that provides activities for children, including opportunities for field trips to places that children may not otherwise get to visit, due to the expense or because they have working parents. The board is considering trimming the program to just field trips this summer because of the shortfall.

“YAP provides an opportunity for kids to participate in positive experiences with volunteers and staff who supervise the activities and has been a successful program in this community for 20 years,” Hansen said, “while providing activities for 75-100 children each summer.”

The other program temporarily on the block because of the shortfall is Adult to Youth Mentoring. It is a one on one mentoring program, staffed mainly by volunteers who spend on average, one hour a week with children who have been referred to the program by the school or parents. According to Hansen the program has matched more than 50 adult mentors and has been successful for the last 12 years.

“These relationships can go on for years,” Hansen said. “The program is running month to month at this point while we search for additional funding sources or possible additional donations.”

According to Hansen, United Way has said there may be an additional small allocation of $50 to $100,000 sometime in June for all their partner agencies. SJFC hasn’t heard anything yet.

Though SJFC hasn’t received any money from United Way since March, Hansen remains hopeful.

“Our core programs will continue,” Hansen said. “We are in no danger of closing our doors. I want to express SJFC’s gratitude and thanks for the support and generosity of our community and those who support us from outside the community as well.”