The year of 2023 has been a full one for the Community Assistance Program (CAP). Our year-round programs, which include the clothing bank, crisis assistance, food connection and chaplain ministry, all saw increases in demand for services. Clothing bank use increased 20 percent over last year, with nearly 2,000 items per month being claimed for reuse. The food connection is providing 36 families each week with food boxes, with additional families on our waitlist. Our chaplains assisted many experiencing financial and health challenges.
CAP’s three seasonal programs – the winter coat drive/distribution, Thanksgiving baskets and Community Toy Store – helped many local families. Also, with the assistance of Monte’s Just a Bite, we were able to provide a hot Thanksgiving meal to 15 of our local unhoused neighbors.
CAP places a high priority on community education, partnering with The Whatcom Dream to provide Understanding Poverty and Financial Empowerment classes, which we plan to continue in 2024.
CAP has been coordinating and hosting a monthly Community Outreach Network meeting. This brings together representatives from a dozen or more local organizations that serve lower income families, allowing us to learn about and support each other’s work and find ways that we can more effectively serve our neighbors.
Many positive connections and collaborations have resulted, including a mobile shower unit that will be coming to Blaine once a week in the new year, providing a much-needed service for our unhoused neighbors. Also, Bridge2Services now has its outreach truck at each of the Loads of Love events at the local laundromat, providing additional support services for the increasing number of those that utilize this service.
Of course, none of what CAP does would be possible without our amazing volunteers and donors. We are so grateful for all of you that care about your neighbors through CAP.
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