Orcas Island Health Care District November Newsletter-- Partner Spotlight: Orcas Community Resource Center

Partner Spotlight: Orcas Community Resource Center

For many Orcas Island residents, the hardest part of getting care isn’t the diagnosis. It’s getting to the appointment, paying for it, or finding a place to stay overnight on the mainland. The Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) helps neighbors through those barriers, and the Orcas Island Health Care District is proud to support that work.

In 2025, the Health Care District provided $40,000 to OCRC to help residents access health care. At the time of its funding report, OCRC had used just over half of those funds to provide nearly 200 services to 97 community members. That support included:

Medical transportation: ferry tickets and taxi fare for off-island specialty care, so appointments aren’t missed
Medical lodging: overnight stays for early-morning appointments or multi-day treatment
Help with medical costs: support for people facing overwhelming health care bills, to prevent medical debt and keep care going
Medical equipment: devices and supplies that support recovery and independence at home
Preventive care: mammogram screenings for residents who would otherwise go without

Behind each number is a neighbor. One self-employed island resident had put off her mammogram for more than two years because of cost. With help from OCRC, she was screened here on Orcas. When the results called for follow-up imaging off-island, OCRC’s support with ferry travel and lodging helped her keep moving forward without delay.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to making sure where you live doesn’t decide whether you can get the care you need. Thank you to the OCRC team for being a lifeline for so many Orcas Island residents.