New Family Resource Center at Harbor Interfaith Services
Carolyn Brady-Sinco opened our offsite meeting at Harbor Interfaith Services’ new Family Resource Center (670 W 9th St in San Pedro) by explaining its purpose and features. Construction is ending and the agency will move in by May 31st. A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled at 4 PM Sunday, June 10.
Much of the funding came from a county development grant with matching grants from several private foundations. The new building will allow the organization to serve twice as many children and expand comprehensive services to 17,000 homeless and working poor clients. The entire 2nd floor will be for children’s education from age 6 weeks through high school. The infant-toddler center will serve 20 children aged 6 weeks-2½ years, and the preschool program will serve 32 children 2½-5 years old.
The Helen Coffey Reading Room (presented tonight by Kellie Cairns) was established with a $30,000 donation from the Coffey family. Book Buddies donated $5000 in children’s books. A Rotarian District Simplified Grant is being requested to pay for some of the shelves and furnishings in this room, and the agency urges Rotarians to volunteer to read to the children regularly. Helen Coffey (Bob Coffey’s spouse) was a teacher and Director of the Portuguese Bend Cooperative Nursery School, as well as a leader in the League of Women Voters. She was an active child advocate, and in 1999 formed and chaired the South Bay/Los Angeles advisory board for First Book, a national nonprofit organization providing books to underprivileged children. She passed away on September 19, 2008, but the Helen Coffey Reading Room will be a permanent tribute to her and a magical place for children to discover the joy of reading.
The after-school program will accommodate 45 students and focus on academics and parent participation for children from kindergarten through grade 12. Volunteer tutors and mentors are planned to supplement the teachers. There will be a computer lab and state-of-the-art learning tools. Workshops and classes on parenting, budgeting and other life skills will be encouraged for all 17,000 clients, who will have access to a conference room, computer lab and expanded job board. A Director of Educational Services has been hired and will recruit several additional teachers. A technology firm will maintain the computer labs and equipment and ensure database support for the outcomes-based educational approach.
Operating costs are expected to increase by about 20%, and will be assisted by new grants from private organizations. The Los Angeles Universal Preschool has agreed to support the preschool here with reimbursement funds for all prekindergarten 4 and 5-year-olds.
$60,000 has been raised through the Square-Foot Club, private individuals purchasing a square foot of space at $250 each to help complete construction and expand services. The Grand Opening on June 10 will also be a fundraiser with attendees paying $150 each, and the associated auction will have bidders purchase supplies or child sponsorships.
Our Club helped provide holiday meals to more than 600 families during this period of transition. Volunteers will be needed for the holidays again this year as well as to work in the pantry all year and to serve as mentors and tutors for the children. Carolyn urged us to bring hotel shampoos and soaps collected on trips, and to consider collections for items like peanut butter, tuna, new packaged socks and underwear, diapers, feminine products, etc. More information is available on the website at www.harborinterfaith.org, or you can call her at 562-208-5407.