BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Joyce Buckingham plays with Martina Gutierrez, 9-months, and her sister Kendra, 3, at the Ron Wood Family Resource Center in Carson City on Thursday. Buckingham is the new director at the center.
Joyce Buckingham knows her job is to provide resources to anyone in need when they enter the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.
"We're not doing our job if we can't give them something when they leave here," she said.
Buckingham is the new executive director at the center. She replaces Teah Chadderdon, who left in August.
Buckingham said the focus of the center is to support the family and family relationships.
Programs offered at the center include Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which is specifically designed to supplement a family's nutritional needs, and serves about 1,200 clients per month; breastfeeding counseling, nutritional education and a supplemental nutritional program; infant and toddler workshops; active parenting classes; food bank; child seat safety program, family resource library and more.
Buckingham, 50, moved to the Johnson Lane area in 1989 with her husband, Jeff, of 29 years.
"I have always done community service," she said. "And I have worked with special-needs children and have an extensive background in fundraising."
Prior to being director, Buckingham was a family advocate at the center and worked as operations manager and case manager with Job Opportunities in Nevada for 10 years. She holds a vocational teaching credential from the state of California.
Buckingham said people from all spectrums use their services, including senior citizens seeking information on housing and energy assistance.
"We work from the heart," Buckingham said of the employees.
"There are four individuals who are bilingual and they love working here as much as I do. We are a tight staff - everybody pitches in."
The center will have a booth along the Nevada Day parade route with information available on their programs. The will also be selling pie coupons from Marie Calendars at a discount, taking orders for holiday pies and will pick up the pies from the Reno restaurant for customers to pick up in Carson City.
"The money from the pie coupons will fund programs at the center," Buckingham said. "Donations from the public are always welcome.
"I feel you're a real asset when you learn from the community base up. Knowing what clients need, providing that need and giving respect - that's important."
• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.