Non-profit Spotlight: Women’s Resource Center
The Women’s Resource Center of Florida, Inc., (WRC) was founded as a private, not-for-profit 501c3 organization in 1984 by the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven. More than 2,500 women each year come to the Center seeking help.
Their needs range from basic items, such as clothing, food, personal hygiene, housing and utilities assistance, to seeking long-term help in becoming self-sufficient individuals.
There are two locations: 165 Avenue A, NW in Winter Haven, and the other at 1021 Lakeland Hills Blvd. in Lakeland.
The mission of the Women’s Resource Center is to provide a variety of services to women and their families in crisis. We provide each client with valuable assistance that will enhance their current situation through immediate services, while empowering each woman and family to become productive members within their community.
The WRC developed the Independence Program to provide emergency assistance as well as case management/counseling for reducing interpersonal conflicts and similar problems.
The nine-month program is designed to help women and their families resolve the issues that originally led them to the WRC for help. Our program includes helping women/men work toward building skills for employment, planning their futures, having self-esteem, practice anger management, parenting, homelessness prevention, and developing financial stability.
The WRC provides a variety of education and training workshops to address the needs of our clients. Although WRC is not a residential agency, we are facilitators for women and their families to overcome family conflicts, to learn new skills and self-confidence, and to find a place to live as well as a job to earn money for self-sufficiency.
There is also a thrift shop called the “Cheep Boutique,” located at 167 Avenue A, NW in Winter Haven, which provides training for women in retail merchandising; clothing and household items for women needing basic necessities; “Dress for Success” clothing for job interviews, and also provides quality merchandise for sale to the public at greatly reduced prices. All proceeds from the thrift shop go to help women and families in our program.
For more info about the Women’s Resource Center contact 863-294-5318 or visit www.WRCFL.org. For more info about the Cheep Boutique contact 863-293-4137, ext. 24.