Submitted by the Lopez Island Family Resource Center
Each day, the Lopez Island Family Resource Center is a busy hub of activity.
Six staff members work with community members of all ages to strengthen, empower and support them, all while crammed into a 700-square-foot office space.
While the staff has learned to creatively share the space with each other, it’s difficult to a make a phone call, let alone have an appointment with a client or meet with a community member, without interruption. Most of the LIFRC’s work requires confidentiality, which is extremely difficult to maintain in a small space.
Lopez Fit is a tight, efficient, 1,300-square-foot space with its own unique character. Lots of planning was required to fit all the equipment and still have room to move around for circuit training and other classes. Gym Manager, Heidi Strong makes the space work by adding humor, dancing, singing and shenanigans to the mix.
Those close quarters will soon be a thing of the past. Pamela McCabe, a passionate LIFRC board member for seven years and Lopez Fit co-founder had been observing the desperate need for more space for both organizations. An opportunity emerged because Lopez Fit was renting their space and the land was for sale.
“I was watching the new Blossom building going up, and I was simply amazed by the transformation,” said McCabe. “So I thought to myself, here’s a way to create more space for both organizations I am passionate about.”
An investment based on a gut feeling many years ago made it possible for McCabe to buy the land, and now fund the construction of a two-story, 6,000-square-foot building that both organizations will rent for a very reasonable rate.
Before the land was even purchased, staff and the boards of both LIFRC and Lopez Fit have been actively involved. They have shared their vision with McCabe and Joe and Nancy Greene of Greene Partners Architecture & Design about how to best meet their organization’s needs as well as the needs of the community.
“When providing human services, it is important to provide an environment that ensures dignity and empowers people,” said McCabe. “This is challenging in the current LIFRC space because it is so crowded and lacks privacy. As we’ve worked together to envision a new building, we’ve made sure to include a good mixture of smaller offices for confidentiality and accessibility and larger conference rooms.
The freed up space at the Lopez Children’s Center building, LIFRC’s current location, will be available for rent to a new tenant. Often there is confusion that LIFRC and the Children’s Center are one organization because they share the same building. The move will clarify that they are two distinct and essential organizations in the community.
“The expanded Lopez Fit will almost double the space available for all our activities and serve more people,” states Lopez Fit Board Member, Beth Shirk. “It will create opportunities for additional classes in a separate exercise room, ample space for Silver Sneaker classes and members will be able to work out, even with 20 circuit training participants at the same time!”
Information about construction timing is forthcoming. In the meantime, LIFRC and Lopez Fit continue to need community support and donations to keep their important programs growing and thriving.
Both organizations are thankful for Lopez’s unique spirit of helping friends and neighbors – necessary for creating a stronger community.
