Marysville community resource center supports local families

The Center at North Marysville is a new community resource center that has supported local families during the pandemic.

The center provides a variety of services to residents in the 98270 and 98271 zip codes and is located in the Lakewood community at 1424 172nd St. NE, Marysville.

The organization has been officially open since May of last year and has spent much of that time helping struggling families.

“In this COVID world a lot of it is around rental and utility assistance,” said Ryan Brown, executive director of LINC NW, the sponsoring organization for the center.

“We don’t have a lot of money, but folks in that world sometimes need someone to say we’re going to talk this through with you and walk with you,” he said.

Even if direct funding support is limited, administrative social worker Mariel Gonzalez said they still connect families with resources where they can.

“With COVID it’s been hard. There have been a lot of people really struggling,” said Gonzalez. “We try to fill in other gaps in their lives if we can. Connecting them with food, diapers or jackets."

The center also runs a mentoring program connecting community members with local students from the Marysville, Lakewood and Granite Falls school districts.

“We work inside the schools for students who just need another person to listen and care for them,” said Erin Maas, student and family advocate at the center.

“Our mentors are community members who are just interested in helping the students,” she added.

Because of the pandemic that program is virtual right now.

When COVID rates were lower the center also served as a gathering place for Lakewood students. The center itself neighbors Lakewood High School.

“We’ve hosted the Lakewood basketball team for team dinners. We held tailgate parties for students,” said Brown. “We want to be one of the safest places in town and just carry this vibe where we’re comfortable and inviting for students."

The center is also building a supply closet of essential items such as shower supplies, interview clothing and cold weather jackets and gloves.

“So when people come on site and they need some things we can send them out with whatever they need,” said Gonzalez.

LINC NW and the center have also worked to create supply backpacks that are provided to victims of domestic violence by local police departments.

Brown said that LINC NW had been working on the idea for the center for a couple of years and had spent a lot of time talking with locals about what was needed.

They came away with those conversations focused on issues like substance abuse, safe spaces for students and support for homeless individuals.

“For so long Lakewood has operated as an island and the city of Marysville has been just out of reach,” said Brown.

With the nearby growth the need for services there has increased, he said.

Some of the first projects the building was used for was helping to feed Lakewood students at the beginning of the pandemic.

Brown said those efforts evolved into a dedicated center which officially opened in May of 2021.

With funding from local grants and charitable foundations the center now has two full-time employees.

“The ability to reach into the community and create real impact has been a blast,” said Brown. “Now we get to serve people in meaningful ways,” he said.

In the future the center hopes to partner with larger organizations. Currently they have an office in the building that is used by Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County.

“If there is where the home base is for these larger organizations that would be great,” said Brown, who added having a contact point in north county would be convenient for those who have trouble getting to south Everett or Lynnwood.

Brown also hopes that the social aspects can continue for Lakewood students when it is safe to do so.

“We’d love to operate this as a drop-in center for kids,” he said. The organization could also expand with student programs to help with literacy, he added.

More direct support services could also come in the future if they can secure the funding and support for them.

“We want to get a laundry/shower facility into the building,” said Brown. “That would really help us to serve kids on the homeless roster and families that are living in their cars."

For more information or to inquire about support, local families can go to thecenteratnorthmarysville.org.