Dr. Isaac Pope stands during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Pope’s Place respite center in Centralia on Friday afternoon. The new facility is named after Jim Phillips, one of the founders of Pope’s Place. The facility can accommodate up to eight medically challenged residents at a time. Respite programs provide short-term respite for families with medically challenged children and young adults. Respite care is for people who need temporary assistance and lasts up to 30 days. Pope’s Place currently operates two pediatric clinics and one for young adults. In addition, it offers physical therapy and a family support center. Pope’s Place was founded in 1995 by Pope, a Chehalis pediatrician who also served on the Chehalis City Council.

Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce / Photo courtesy