Critical Needs Task Force Created

Recognizing the impact of the world-wide economic turndown on local families and businesses, the San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF) is creating a Critical Needs Task Force to identify newly emerging needs for basic community support.  The Task Force will be formed over the next month and is designed to bring together non-profits, public organizations, service groups and interested individuals to develop and implement a strategic plan to efficiently bring needed and creative support to usher our community through these hard times.

“We believe this situation goes way beyond the usual need for food, clothing, housing and medical care – services that island non-profits already address,” said Pamela Gross, Foundation board member liaison for basic needs funding.   “The challenge will be to not only strengthen our local non-profits who address these needs, but to broaden the scope of support to include a whole new segment of our community that has never before needed or used assistance.  We want to mitigate the effect the current financial crisis is having on our already strapped and declining working middle class.  The cost of living on the island is already high and even fully employed families, faced with declining investment and savings earnings, are feeling the pinch.” 

“The Task Force will also be charged with developing long term solutions to help buffer working islanders and local businesses from future fluctuations in our economy.  Education, job retraining and affordable housing will help promote a more diversified business climate that will be key to a long term survival of our community,” according to Charles Anderson, Foundation Chair.  “We see an opportunity for the Community Foundation to serve as a catalyst and bring together non-profits and community organizations while helping assist with financial support.”

Non-profits, public organizations and individuals who currently serve our community’s critical needs are encouraged to contact the San Juan Island Community Foundation during December and to join with us in defining the role of the Critical Needs Task Force.

The Community Foundation serves as a non-profit philanthropic umbrella organization helping donors, non-profits and public organizations to achieve their goals through direct grants, organizational assistance and philanthropic resource management. 

For more information on the role the San Juan Island Community Foundation is having in our charitable community please contact or visit our office at 378-1001, Technology Center, Mullis Street, Friday Harbor.