Year in Review: Community Assistance Program

CAP started the year transitioning from a focus on Covid-related problems to our more normal assistance. However, with increasing inflation, we have seen an expected uptick in need. In recent months, our Clothing Bank and Food Connection programs have seen increased usage. Ironically, we did see a slight decrease in usage of our fall programs, which we attribute to other organizations providing increased assistance for some of our local families.

Our Thanksgiving Basket program experienced significant challenges, like finding a new distribution location and being unable to secure a supply of turkeys due to the avian flu outbreak. However, with community help and creativity, we provided a lot of holiday dinners. 

The first full year of our Chaplain ministry proved to be very beneficial, as emotional and spiritual needs often accompany material needs and require longer-term follow-up.

CAP sponsored three Whatcom Dream Financial Empowerment classes, including our first class for teens, which 12 students attended. We also hosted several other learning activities at the CAP center.

This fall, we initiated and hosted a new Blaine/Birch Bay Community Outreach Network, which is a gathering of groups in our area that have a role in helping people in poverty and crisis. Its objective is to learn about services provided by each organization and to allow service providers to connect with one another to better serve our community members. We will be meeting on a regular basis to facilitate this connection.

A look back for us is never complete without Thanksgiving. We are grateful that our community support has been steady and generous, giving us reserve that has positioned us well for the rest of winter. We can only do what we do because of the volunteers and donors that find our cause worthy. You make it happen. Thanks for caring.