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LIFRC Community Updates
April 6, 2021
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From the Executive Director
During this season of renewal, the warm weather, longer days, and vaccine availability is making us feel hopeful for all that lies ahead. We look forward to spending time with the people we love and things we enjoy that we missed having in our lives this year.
We also reaffirm our commitment to serving Lopez Island in partnership with our dedicated volunteers and generous donors who have shared their time and talents with us. You are a constant source of inspiration, with our collective strengths working together to adapt and innovate during the pandemic.
Over the past year, LIFRC has creatively expanded essential services to meet the increased need for advocacy, household supports, social-emotional well-being, and youth learning and development. Looking forward, we have an ambitious year ahead to achieve greater equity, maintain our services, and continue to understand and meet the urgent needs on Lopez.
This update shares the story of where we’ve been, what issues need to be tackled still, and the work that lies ahead. We look forward to finding ways to grow even stronger and more equitable with you.
—Barbara Schultheiss
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Save the Date: GiveLopez April 13-25
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GiveLopez 2021 is a fundraiser benefiting seven Lopez Island nonprofits. We’ll send updates soon. You can learn more here.
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State of Lopez: March 2020-March 2021
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This update is to keep you informed about LIFRC’s work one year into the pandemic. We continue our commitment to equity, sharing power and transparency by listening to and supporting diverse leaders, understanding what’s working, moving away from what isn’t, and finding new ways to ensure that everyone thrives with a sense of belonging.
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Over the past year, we have seen an increase in economic insecurity for both individuals and business.
Reduction in employment: 25%
Seasonal, hourly-wage jobs are starting to be restored. But one season of temporary employment will not quickly negate the accrued debt that many households have accumulated as the result of sustained reduced income.
Reduction in retail sales: 25%
Lopez households had less expendable income, and tourism halted for much of the year. Local small businesses struggled to stay open, sometimes incurring large losses to get through this challenging period.
Source: WA State Department of Commerce Economic Recovery Dashboard
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Over the past 12 months we have also seen an increase in need for household supports.
Increased services for housing stabilization and food security: 400%
We quickly ramped up Lopez Food Share and Household Basic Supports to meet a sharp increase in need. We maintained connections with our clients virtually or in person, at a social distance. In cases where people were completely homebound, we made home visits with food deliveries as needed.
Sharp rise in support for mental health services to manage stress, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic
LIFRC’s Community Wellness Mental Health Supports connected Lopezians to individual and small group support systems.
Increased stress for families juggling distance learning with social isolation
We have continued to provide family support services. To assist youth, we launched a tutoring program, and facilitated small outdoor group meetings in compliance with safety guidelines.
Source: LIFRC database and community needs assessments
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Looking Ahead: More Challenges
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The need for household, mental health, and family supports is ongoing.
New COVID cases on San Juan Island this past week: 10
We have entered a fourth wave locally, with more than 50 people exposed. Masks, social distancing and limited gathering are still with us.
Lopez households living below the poverty level or with insufficient income for basic survival budget: 35%
...for multiracial households: 55%
...for Latinx households: 57%
...for households with a single female head of household: 77%*
San Juan County has one of the lowest hourly wages in the state. We currently rank 37th out of 39 counties. We also have one of the most expensive rental markets in Washington. Rents here are higher than 80% of the rest of the state.**
LIFRC has seen a steady increase in requests for mental health and family support services.
Parents and educators have reported that children in particular have experienced adverse experiences as a result of isolation, negatively impacting their ability to learn. Some children are falling behind in school.
The need to confront systemic racism on a national level means coming to terms with it on Lopez, too.
LIFRC is working to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to become an anti-racist organization and to promote these values in the community. One valuable resource: iHollaback's Bystander Resources.
*Source: United Way ALICE Project Report
** Sources: ESD WA GOV and WA State Dept. of Commerce
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Looking Ahead: Lopez Together
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Days of hope and promise lie ahead!
Lopez residents now vaccinated: 40%
This figure may be higher, in fact, as it does not include individuals vaccinated off island.
LIFRC staff and Lopez Food Share volunteers vaccinated: 100%
Our staff and direct-service volunteers qualify for early vaccination so that we can continue to serve our community safely.
Schools will re-open! Schools will re-open!
Lopez Children’s Center continues to provide preschool services to our island’s youth. The school district is actively planning to be open for grades K-12 in April.
Summer is coming! Summer is coming!
LIFRC is planning summer youth development programs with a variety of week-long workshops available to all. We are working with a group of parents of children with special needs to make activities accessible and inclusive.
Creative new mental health supports to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression
LIFRC builds resilience with Hero’s Journey; Open Source Wellness for adults and youth; and the Calm & Connection Toolkit.
Households served by Lopez Food Share each week: 200
Our food security program continues to grow, with ongoing provision of foods produced by local farmers. Our farmer/restaurant project has helped stabilize our local economy, with the hope that by the summer season, things will be back on track.
Housing Lopez breaks ground for six new affordable rental units for essential workers this month
This project addresses a critical need for more affordable rental housing on Lopez.
Shaping the Future of Our Community
We are partnering with Orcas Island to provide La Cima, an inter-island leadership program for Latinx youth; resuming Voices & Visions meetings with BIPOC community members; and reconnecting with Coast Salish tribal leaders to listen and support their ideas.
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Special thanks to our incredible community! Your big hearts and generous spirits make our work possible.
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