$112,990 raised by 206 donors
100% complete
$100,000 Goal
Through education, resource connection, and skills building, FIRC helps local workers and families in Summit County achieve stability. FIRC believes that strong families create strong community. Visit the FIRC website for more details.
Recipient of Rental Assistance:
"Thank you ever so much for helping me with rental assistance. I am a single mother with a two year old and eight year old. I am a teacher, but haven't had much work this summer. I am forever grateful for your generosity."
Recipient of Utility Assistance:
A mother of two special needs children came into FIRC after her electricity and heat had been disconnected for two days. The family's food in the refrigerator and freezer was going bad, the house was so cold at night that the family had to sleep in the same bed to stay warm and her youngest boy with special needs was scared and couldn't comprehend why the house was dark and cold.
Losing the electricity and heat is new for this family. This mother has raised five children, two of which are currently serving in the military. She has been succeeding as a single mom for 11 years and was doing really well as a mortgage broker. Three years ago were living in a large home and had everything they needed in life. Then the mother's brokerage company shut down and they lost everything. The family moved to Summit County because she figured if she would have to take any job she might as well provide a better quality of life for her child with autism. Living in the city is hard for him with all of the noise and distraction and he's in Summit County he is able to keep his mind calm thanks to the serene setting.
Recently, the mother became unexpectedly unemployed, causing the inability to pay Xcel. Soon she will be starting a new job. "I just needed to make it through this month, and without FIRC's help, I don't know how I would have gotten my children through this situation," the mother stated. "It's very humbling to have everything one day and now be in a situation like this, another. With my deepest gratitude, thank you to all who donated to this fund. I don't think donors realize the true impact their money can make on a family's life. I just needed a little help to get back on my feet. FIRC and these donors have truly made a difference for me and my children."
Mother from FIRC's Families United Home Visitation Program:
I want to extend my deep gratitude for such a wonderful Families United program. We feel very fortunate to have a team like you available to help us build stronger families.
I would especially like to thank our Parent Educator, Rosie, for such excellent and professional work in her home visits with us. During each visit, we receive wonderful instruction through topics ranging from physical and emotional development of our two small children along with covering other issues of great importance to me as a wife and mother.
FIRC promotes stable families.
The Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC), originally named the Summit County Family Resource Center (FRC), started serving Summit County, Colorado, in 1993 out of community necessity for more localized assistance.
At the time, childcare and parent effectiveness were identified as major challenges facing Colorado residents. As a result, the State provided partial funding for "Family Centers" with missions to address these and related issues; the funds provided helped kick-start the FRC.
In 1995, the FRC opened the Summit Thrift & Treasure Thrift Store, the only non-profit thrift store in the county. The thrift store opened in order to provide affordable clothing to Summit County residents and strengthen FRC's financial stability.
In January of 2000, the Census revealed a 700% increase in the immigrant population in Summit County. This new information showed an important and urgent need for education and awareness to help the community adapt to the changes in the community's population.
The Summit County Government began a six-month planning process to address these new needs; 28 community members met monthly to strategize and plan the development of a diversity center.
It became obvious to the planning team that the FRC shared many of the same goals and objectives of the diversity planning team. As a result, FRC board members and the diversity planning team worked together to recreate the goals and mission for the newly named Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC).
In 2003, FIRC moved to new offices in Dillon, Colorado, to share a location with Court Appointed Special Advocates, Early Childhood Options and Summit County Head Start, encouraging collaboration with these agencies. Since then, FIRC has improved and broadened family services, expanded food bank space and thrift store retail space, and continued to strengthen its staff to effectively meet the needs of Summit County.
In 2008, after a community health assessment and community health strategic plan were completed, FIRC was asked to address the problem of "access to health". In addition, research based parenting classes have also been identified as lacking in Summit County through the Parenting Education and Strategic Planning group made up a various agencies whose mission is to safeguard children.
As a result, FIRC is now dedicated to identifying community partners in an effort to address the numerous uninsured and underinsured residents in Summit County as well as providing curriculum based parenting classes to all Summit County residents.
FIRC continues to be a community leader in the area of cultural integration, resource and referral services, emergency services, family support and education.
Organization name
Family and Intercultural Resource Center
other names
Family and Intercultural Resource Center, FIRC, Summit County Family Resource Center
1993
Tax id (EIN)
84-1252900
Category
Human Services
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
251 W. 4th St. P.O. Box 1636Other
1760 Airport RoadSummit County, CO, US