Friendly faces greet clients as they come into the Community Service Center door and turn right into the reception area of the Ruskin Family Support & Resource Center (FSRC). Bilingual staff respond to questions about available programs, both from the FSRC and other agencies nearby, helping to eliminate confusion about where they can meet such needs as housing assistance, food stamps, emergency bill payments, etc. All families are welcome and all services are free of charge.

The computer room is a popular destination for many who are searching for jobs, applying for benefits or working on school projects. Clients also have the use of the fax machine, the copier, and the phone in pursuing their goals.

Classes are offered to strengthen computer skills and to improve self-sufficiency, encourage personal development and career growth.

While the parents are busy with training or community meetings, the children can enjoy the brightly decorated and furnished playroom. This allows parents to concentrate on their classes or other activities, while supervised age-related play, at no charge, keep the children occupied. There are toys and simple games for the preschoolers, arts and crafts material for toddlers and school aged children as well as computers for older children and youth.

The nearby kitchen and spacious, comfortable “living” room are often used by community groups for meetings, complete with hearty pot-luck dinners and delicious snacks. Groups hosted here include “Kinship” (grandparents raising grandchildren), Grupo de Hombres (Men’s Group), the Family Community Advisory Council (the heart of the center), and the Community Town Hall meetings.