The Skiatook Family Resource Center, located next door to the Skiatook Museum, was founded by the Tri-S Foundation, a local non-profit organization out of the Skiatook Rotary Club. We house eight family service agencies, including a branch office of the American Red Cross, the lead agency.

The Red Cross had been a presence in the community through temporary emergency disaster relief services when needed and started 35 years ago through the Learn to Swim program at the Skiatook Municipal Swimming Pool by Rev. Dale Nielsen and the late Chester Reyckert, Sr., and continued to the present by his daughter-in-law, Jeannie Reyckert.

The Red Cross provides health and safety classes, youth programs and classes, and sponsors the Self Help And Resource Exchange (SHARE) program at the center in addition to providing their usual emergency disaster relief services when needed.

SHARE is a worldwide program that has been extraordinarily successful in helping people to stretch their food dollars while building their communities through volunteer service. A SHARE, consists of fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and other food staples that can be purchased for $17 cash or $14 food stamps and $2 cash, plus two hours of volunteer service within the community.

The Family Resource Center also houses offices for Camp Fire Boys and Girls; Credit Counseling Centers, Inc.; Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS); Retired Senior Volunteer Programs of Tulsa (RSVP); Women and Children in Crisis (WCC); and Youth Services of Tulsa County; and is associated with the Skiatook Emergency Assistance Center (S.E.A.C.) and independent community based and volunteer run organization offering assistance to people in crisis situations, through a food pantry and clothes closet and assistance with utilities, rent and transportation. Regular and weekly family and individual counseling sessions are available with many of the agencies.

The center is operated by office manager, Melinda Harper, and local volunteers. Two Americorp VISTAs have been assigned to the Center to help with the anticipated growth and to assist with providing the public with information about the services available in the Center. The need for volunteers is continuous; so all interested citizens are encouraged to contact the center to offer their time. Stop by Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm, call us at 396-4108, or call the Red Cross number, 396-3162. (Messages may be left on voice mail 24 hours a day.)