In Memory of our Dear Friend

Frederick J. “Jack” Artz – January 14, 1922 – August 22, 2008

We give thanks to God for the life, witness and generosity of Jack (and Jane) Artz.  Jack’s memorial service was held August 30th at The Waterford, where Jack and Jane had lived.  Friends of the Carpenter is forever grateful to Jack and Jane for their continuous donations which made possible the purchase of the Friendship Center in 2004, and continuing support to upgrade the equipment and program of this ministry.

Memorial Gifts received in the names of:            Molly Larson          Hugh Stone                   Bob Burkes              Jim Carlsen                                                                             Bob Steele               George Gill

                                                                            Robert Johnson    Fred Kuhns

Friends of the Carpenter was incorporated in Vancouver, WA on October 26, 1998 and received 501-c-3, IRS non-profit status in March of 1999. Rev. Duane L. Sich is the organization's Executive Director and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Friends of the Carpenter began as a vision of a practical outreach of simple welcome and personal interaction between volunteers from the church and the poor. First Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Sich served as Associate Pastor for 28 years, granted him a six-month sabbatical to do research and if the way be clear, establish this new ministry. The initial workspace began in the Sich's home, using a spare bedroom as the FOC office and the 3 rd bay of the garage and Duane's tools as the original woodwork shop. Since the beginning, regular contact has been made with the homeless and poor persons of our community through the woodworking events scheduled at Share House Men's Emergency Shelter, events held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and at the Friendship Center. Later, First United Methodist Church allowed FOC to use two unused basement classrooms for office space. Within the first few years, Salvation Army allowed FOC approximately 200 sq. ft. of warehouse storage space for wood material storage. Later, Joel Scott donated an approximate 1,000 sq. ft. warehouse storage space. Bluebird/Allied Storage then welcomed FOC into their storage space - an upgrade to nearly 2,000 sq. ft. Then Wilf Zilke, a Board Member,

 donated a 3,000 sq. ft. private warehouse storage space which gave FOC the ability to establish a workshop in the same space as the wood storage. What a God-Send! In 2004, Jack & Jane Artz made a major donation which allowed FOC to purchase the current Friendship Center consisting of 18,000 sq. ft., including a 5 room office complex, which was dedicated on May 2nd, 2004 and continues to be our home! Until this time, like those we serve, FOC was essentially homeless as well, which gave ample empathy and example of how having support from friends and a home can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Thanks Be To God!

Interagency Relationships

Interagency Relationships:   Among those who are homeless, the colloquial on the street is “Vancouver is the Hilton of Homelessness.”  Clark County provides amazing resources and strategic support for those in need.  As agencies communicate and collaborate services, transitions can occur more efficient and effectively.  In addition to FOC’s participation in “The Continuum of Care” (A Vancouver Housing Authority/Council for the Homeless consortium of caregiver agencies), the following are organizations with which we have had a more active partnership.

GVIA – Greater Vancouver Interfaith Association; Many of the FOC supporting churches are members of GVIA; Rev. Sich serves as a member of the GVIA Executive Board. 

Greater Clark County Rotary – Rev. Sich is a member of this club, and Chair of the Community Service Committee.  Under Duane’s leadership, the Rotary serves an annual summer Community Barbeque for the homeless, hosted at Vancouver Landing on the Columbia River.  The Rotary Club has also used the Friendship Center for their outreach projects: 1) built a Play House as a raffle prize/fund raiser project for Habitat for Humanity;  2) twelve Planter Box/Benches for Hazel Dell Elementary School. and 3) one business sponsored a duplex family for Christmas gifts. 

Clark County Health Department & Waste Management Department – Under the direction of Tricia Pace of the Health Department, Friends of the Carpenter built and installed 65 raised bed, vegetable garden, planter boxes at the homes of low-income families of our Vancouver community.

WHO – Winter Hospitality Overflow:  Having been highly involved in the instigation of WHO through GVIA - providing the FOC trailer and housing the bedding and supplies the first year when the WHO program moved from church to church (which didn’t work very well), FOC continues to provide staging/storage space, with many of the FOC volunteers being vital volunteers through their own churches to carry out their weeks service to WHO.  With our community, we are proud to be a community partner in providing this extra emergency shelter for those who are homeless, especially during the cold winter months.

SHARE HOUSE is a partner service provider to our program, allowing FOC to intentionally invite their clients into the FOC program.  FOC prepares and serves all weekday breakfasts at Share, a monthly dinner (4th  Monday evening) followed by a simple worship service; and a monthly (3rd  Saturday) brunch followed by a woodwork activity and worship service.