Wildbird Charity prepares to start weekend backpack program

Wildbird Charity is gearing up to start its weekend backpack food program for Whatcom County students by the end of September. To help kick off the new school year, the Blaine nonprofit recently received a $10,000 donation from the Jerry H. Walton foundation in Sedro-Woolley.

Wildbird Charity executive director Mark Moder said this year’s program will likely need a $160,000 budget to serve 350 students two breakfast, two lunch, two dinner meals and snacks each week. The program has $25,000 so far to feed children; Moder said it’s common for the nonprofit to start with little and rely on fundraising and donations throughout the year. Blaine Food Bank also contributes food to Wildbird Charity.

Backpack program meals consist of things like mac and cheese, soup, milk, granola bars and fruit. “We try to make the food as healthy as economically feasible,” Moder said.

The number of students the program served skyrocketed during March 2020, when the nonprofit went from serving 200 to 900 students. Wildbird Charity served over 200,000 meals in Whatcom County in 2020, Moder said.

Since school just started, Moder said Blaine school district is still trying to determine the number of students the program can help.

The program serves Blaine, Bellingham and Mount Baker school districts.

“We want to serve all of the school districts but don’t want to overcommit,” Moder said.

Wildbird Charity started the backpack program in 2018 to feed children experiencing food insecurity in Whatcom County. The program was modeled after a similar program in Abbotsford called the Starfish Pack Program.

“I hear great stories from food coordinators about giving bags of food to kids, some people just go hungry,” Moder said. “These kids get food in school but when they go home for the weekends, they’re still experiencing food insecurity.”

On Friday, November 5, Wildbird Charity will host “Wines of Whatcom,” a wine-tasting event at Bellewood Acres. Attendees will sample Whatcom and Skagit county wines while supporting the nonprofit. The 21-plus event runs 6-9 p.m.; tickets for unlimited tastings are $35 per person or $60 for two.

“It’s a labor of love for people,” Moder said. “There’s a lot of people in Whatcom County who care about kids and want to help.”

To volunteer or donate, visit the Wildbird Charity website at wildbirdcharity.org, or contact Mark Moder at wildbirdcharity1@gmail.com and 208/660-8000. For more information on “Wines of Whatcom” and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/2Xawm2s.