It started with a mom.

Our founder, Clair Winans, raised four sons in Chatham, NY​. When her youngest started kindergarten, she reflected on the fifteen years​ she had spent raising children under five and recognized the need for a supportive space for parents and caregivers. 

​Inspired by her own experience, she launched “Project Survival” in her kitchen, creating a place where families could share their struggles, offer encouragement, and build lasting connections.

Now, more than 50 years later, ​Clair's vision lives on through the Family Resource Centers of Columbia County, which continue​s to serve families across multiple locations​. Our goal is to continue the mission that she started: becoming a refuge and resource for parents of young children.