The Lodi Women’s Center29 S Washington Street

Lois Borchardt (1929-2001), Doris McCaughna (1925-2019), and Pat Robison (1929-2020) joined forces to address the issue of domestic violence in Lodi. In the 1980’s, the three friends formed a taskforce to study domestic violence, and later received initial funding from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). In 1990, the three women spearheaded the opening of a Women’s Center Youth and Family Services (YFS) office in a school classroom in Lodi. Four years later, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Lodi City Council, and General Mills, the center was able to move to a permanent home at 29 S Washington Street.The Women’s Center YFS was staffed by volunteers. Lois Borchardt assumed the role of administrator of the center. Doris McCaughna, Pat Robison, and Lois Borchardt, served as peer counselors for the women who came seeking services. In 1994 the trio of friends received the Susan B. Anthony Award as “San Joaquin County Women of Achievement” for their work in founding the Women’s Center of Lodi, and for providing critical intervention services to battered women. The Women’s Center YFS served as many as 750 clients per year with a staff of up to 22 trained peer counselors who volunteered their time to provide counseling, support groups, assistance with temporary restraining orders and temporary housing, and court accompaniment for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.The Women’s Center YFS in Lodi closed during the Covid-19 epidemic and has not yet reopened.Lois Borchardt taught in Lodi schools for more than 30 years. To honor her work as a teacher and founder of the Women’s Center YFS, a new Lodi school was named after her in 2004: Lois E Borchardt Elementary School.