Twenty five years ago when I founded Seashore, I saw the need for literacy programs in our area.
Today, our community of volunteers work together to help meet basic needs at our three locations in Waldport.
We provide after school & summer programs, we serve hundreds of nutritious meals each month, and I am grateful that we continue to grow and thrive!
Thanks for the support that’s made it all possible!
Senitila McKinley
Read Sentila’s story in The Oregon Coast Today.
Our History
1992 – Senitila McKinley began delivering books and meals out of the back of her car to families in Waldport.
1993– Summer literacy programs were offered in the basement of St. Luke’s in Waldport, Seashore was formed, but operated under the auspices of Oregon Literacy
1994- – Partnerships with Lincoln County School District, local banks, and churches allowed us to to operate for many years out of various buildings in Waldport.
2000- A group of Senitila’s educator friends and community members joined her in forming Seashore Family Literacy as a non-profit, 501(c)3 and board of directors established the Center’s future.
2012 – Through a generous donation, our current building, DaNoble House, was purchased to operate our programs.
2014 – Lincoln County School District sold the former middle school gym/cafeteria to Seashore, now designated the “Center for Learning.”
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1992 - FOUNDING
When Seashore’s founder, Senitila McKinley, came to Waldport, from Tonga in 1978,
she spoke very little English.
Through struggling to learn English to help her own children with school work, she saw first-hand the need for family literacy services in South Lincoln County.
It was in response to her own and other’s experiences that she founded Seashore.
Senitila began to organize her first Summer literacy programs and held them at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Local high school students helped form Seashore. Initially it operated under the auspices of “Oregon Literacy”.
1994 – GROWING
Partnerships with Lincoln County School District, local banks, and churches allowed us to operate for many years out of various buildings in Waldport.
2000 - ORGANIZING
Senitila and a group of community members formed Seashore Family Literacy as a non-profit, 50 1(c)3. The newly formed Board of Directors began to establish the Center’s future.
Regular, daily programs were held and services included tutoring, art, music, a clothing closet and community meals.
2006 – GREEN BIKE CO-OP IS FOUNDED
The Green Bike Co-Op was created to provide transportation for local community members.
It was also a way to promote good health and recreation in our area.
2012 – PERMANENT HOME
Through the support of a generous donor we moved into the DaNoble House.
The space provides a permanent home for youth and family literacy services, and administrative operations.
2016 - TODAY
Beyond the services provided at the DaNoble House, Seashore saw the need to reestablish the services that Seashore had been providing for years to help meet the basic community needs, including free clothing and food.
In 2014, Seashore purchased the deed to acquire the former middle school gym/cafeteria and surrounding lot.
The property provides space for community functions and outreach.
The adjacent lot is home to the “JOY Garden”.
We continue our mission directed work, while also looking towards the future.
Through the generosity of sharing talents, our programs continue to be volunteer driven.
Our future plans include improving Seashore’s “Center For Learning” infrastructure, interior and exterior.
The Board of Directors has prioritized the list of improvements for the building and are completing projects as funds are raised.
