‘Tis the season for giving – these organizations could use a hand

By Stefanie Donahue

If chilly weather and holiday tunes have gotten you in the giving mood, consider donating to local organizations that provide crucial services to residents in Blaine, Birch Bay and beyond:

Blaine Food Bank: The food bank, located at 500 C Street, serves an average of 400 families, or 1,500 people; more than 80,000 pounds of food are distributed each month. The group is hoping to raise $25,000 by Friday, December 22 to receive a match donation from an anonymous benefactor. To donate, send a check or cash to P.O. Box 472 or drop it off in person. Non-perishable food donations are also accepted regularly. Visit bit.ly/2n7XU5F to learn more.

Blaine School District Family Service Center: Since 1997, the center has supported low-income families by providing basic necessities, school supplies, family literacy classes and other social services. To donate, mail a check to ‘Blaine School District Family Service Center,’ Attn: Jessie Burton, 765 H St, Blaine, WA 98230. Cash or school supplies are also accepted at the district’s office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 765 H Street. For more information, contact Jessie Burton at jburton@webmail.blainesd.org or 360/332-0740 or visit bit.ly/2iigIK7.

The Community Assistance Program (CAP): The volunteer-run outreach program, located at 382 Boblett Street, provides social services to residents in Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts. CAP offers free weekly meals at the Blaine Senior Center in September through May, gives out Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of families each year, provides clothing assistance out of 520 C Street in Blaine and sponsors counseling services for those who have short term, urgent financial needs. Year-round, CAP accepts clothing and monetary donations. To donate, send a check to ‘CAP’ at P.O. Box 1067, Blaine 98231 or visit blainecap.org.

Meals on Wheels and More: Each year, an estimated 77,000 people in Whatcom County receive meals from the program which serves cold and hot meals by delivery or at community centers, including the Blaine Senior Center. To donate, send a check to ‘Meals on Wheels and More’ at 315 Halleck Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 or visit wccoa.org.

Rebound of Whatcom County: The nonprofit, located at 316 East McLeod Road in Bellingham, sponsors Blaine’s Roots program, which is geared toward families coping with difficult life circumstances. To donate, visit reboundfamilies.org.

For a full list of community resources in Whatcom County, visit the Opportunity Council’s website: bit.ly/2BkiNkz.