In what appears to be a banner year for a women's shelter that is experiencing greater demand for services, the Montrose-based Tri-County Resource Center announced on Feb. 1 that it has merged with Hilltop Community Resources of Grand Junction.

Serving 13,000 people in western Colorado since 1950, Hilltop has programs ranging from education for early-childhood wellness and at-risk youths to work-force development and senior services. Hilltop will assist TCRC in grant writing, accounting and human resources administration, freeing up the shelter to focus on delivering services and lessening the tasks of fundraising.

Hilltop purchased the former Adam's Office Supply on South 1st Street in Montrose to serve as their Montrose/Delta regional office. It will contain office space and a conference room, and expects to be operational by May 1.

The Tri-County Resource Center was established in early 1980 and in 2004 provided counseling and protection to 998 victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Within that total, 252 were first-time clients. The center provides crisis intervention and operates two safe houses for victims in Montrose, Delta and Ouray counties. Last year it provided temporary housing for 160 clients.

Following the merger, Tri-County named Rebecca Ela as its executive director, replacing interim director Catherine McElman who has been serving in that capacity since last summer.

"We will be working together in the coming weeks in the transition process," McElman said last week.

Hilltop already has a shelter program similar to TCRC in Grand Junction called the Latimer House Counseling and Advocacy Center. Hilltop offers 26 programs, the largest of which is senior services. It also operates three retirement and assisted-living facilities in the Mesa county area, The Atrium, The Fountains, and The Commons, with a total of more than 400 beds.

Hilltop's Client Services Director Kaye Hotsenpiller told the Montrose Daily Press this week that the merger is geared toward expansion of TCRCs services: "It's a win-win situation. We wanted to branch out and they wanted to expand their services"

A major reconstruction project has been underway at the Montrose safe house, aided by local volunteers. "With the support of McDougal & Co., local businesses and craftsmen, we have added square footage to the clients common living room, completely remodeled the kitchen, added a client sitting room, and expanded the upstairs bathroom and completed a new coat of paint and window coverings for all of the downstairs rooms," said TCRC's Alberta Brown.

Representatives of TCRC added that they will continue community fundraising, raising funds for the Montrose facility and not Hilltop: "Although Hilltop will do the grant writing, Tri-County will continue to hold its own community fundraisers. When each of our programs does a fundraiser, those dollars stay with the program," said Hilltop's Barbara Salogga.

Local fundraising for TCRC is highlighted annually with a slide show/auction fundraiser hosted in Ouray by the Sixth Annual Chicks with Picks. On Feb. 4 and Feb. 7 the organization garnered $15,103 and set a record. It has raised more than $60,000 to date with all proceeds from the door and auction going to TCRC. Spokesperson Kim Reynolds said this week that she and fellow climber Kellie Day Anderson founded Chicks with Picks, an annual week of ice climbing, clinics, to share a favorite sport with others while empowering women along the way. The annual auction drew climbers from as far away as the Northwest.

"The auctions really impact the women because of the association (with TCRC) that