For those facing emotional or financial hardships on the shoreline, one organization has been a constant beacon of hope for 26 years. Now, to continue and grow its mission, The Women & Family Life Center kicked-off their “Open Door” campaign in an effort to raise funds to improve the center’s building and expand programming to meet the community’s needs.

The public phase of the campaign launched March 7, with center and community members gathering to hear about the fundraising effort.

The Women & Family Life Center offers a slew of programs, everything from divorce support groups to legal workshops, for women and families facing crises. While the center has grown substantially since it started in the basement of St. George’s church a quarter century ago, so have the needs of the community.

The center’s current building hasn’t been renovated or invested in for 15 years, making it difficult to accommodate a growing need in an aging space. According to center statistics, 80 percent more families are at financial risk than five years ago and the center helped 400 families alone last year—double the number helped three years ago.

Beyond the financial crises felt by shoreline families, domestic violence continues to be the leading cause of injury for women ages 15 to 44, according to the center. Nearly 100 women came to the center last year seeking safety from domestic violence—double the number of cases from the prior year.

With need on the rise, Executive Director Peggy Britt said the center knew it needed to take action. Running almost entirely on donations, the center set a goal of raising $500,000 in addition to the $300,000 annual operating budget to improve the space and expand programming and staff.

“We decided we wanted to embrace who we truly are as an organization, which is the first open door for people who are facing emotional, financial, and legal hardships,” she said. “We knew that we needed to step up our game because we knew that the community needed our programs more than ever.”

To start the campaign, the center reached out to numerous organizations in town, all of which were ready and willing to help, according to Britt. Before moving into this public phase of the campaign, Britt said the center has already raised close to 75 percent of its fundraising goal.

“Every single person we have talked to has said ‘How can we help?’” she said. “They gave their advice, donated funds, and pledged pro-bono and low-cost services.”

To move into the public phase of the campaign, the center is partnering with the Guilford Foundation. For every donation under $1,000, the donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the foundation, according to Guilford Foundation Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra.

“We recognize that in Guilford you don’t have to give $1,000 to be a philanthropist,” she said. “You can give $25 and it means just as much.”

With so many dollars already in the bank, Britt said the center can begin construction this summer. Plans include renovating the parking lot and making improvements to the building such as new windows, furniture, making spaces multi-purpose, and remediating structural deterioration.

Part of the goal of the campaign, outside of the dollars, is to make sure the community knows about the center and the services it offers. Center Board of Directors Co-Chair Meghan Forgione said the value of the center to the community cannot be underestimated.

“One thing I have learned through serving here is we really impact people’s lives on a daily basis,” she said. “At the end of the day what we also provide, which is maybe not tangible, is a sense of hope for individuals that are going through a really tough time.”

To learn more or to donate to the Women & Family Life Open Door campaign, visit www.womenandfamilylife.org.