For over forty years, the Bellingham Herald’s Extend-A-Hand charity has brought our community together to help families and neighbors through moments of crisis. For decades, Herald readers have removed barriers for local families. They bring parents what they need to build stability for their kids, and help ensure that people facing health challenges can access lifesaving care.

This year, the Bellingham Herald once again partners with Opportunity Council and Unity Care NW to make sure donations go directly to helping people in Whatcom County. Gifts help parents create stable homes for their kids and neighbors who need critical medical support to stay healthy.

Last year, Opportunity Council received over $29,000 from Extend-A-Hand. These dollars helped families overcome hidden barriers like the costs of move-in deposits, application fees, transportation, groceries and diapers, or a short motel stay when a family had nowhere else to go—costs that can keep them from securing or keeping a safe place to live. That stability gives parents room to breathe and take the next step toward long-term housing.

Unity Care NW used Extend-A-Hand support to help neighbors fill prescriptions, access vaccinations, and pay for health essentials that insurance didn’t cover. Donations helped people stay healthy enough to work, care for their families, and maintain stability.

“Extend-A-Hand is critical for us to help families with what they need most—whether that’s move-in assistance, diapers, or transportation,” said Katie Rose, Opportunity Council’s fund development manager. “This funding ensures the most immediate needs of families in our programs are met.”

What Donations Support

Extend-A-Hand gifts help Opportunity Council and Unity Care NW provide practical, immediate support throughout the year:

For families seeking stability:

  • Move-in costs like deposits or first month’s rent
  • Rental application fees
  • Transportation to work or essential appointments
  • Groceries, diapers, or basic household supplies
  • Laundry support so kids can attend school with confidence
  • Short hotel stays when families with children have no safe alternative

For neighbors who need health care:

  • Prescription medications: Extend-A-Hand filled 2,416 prescriptions last year
  • High co-pays insurance won’t cover
  • Vaccinations and preventive health items
  • Dental or mental health medications essential for stability

Every gift strengthens the safety net for children, parents, and neighbors across Whatcom County.

How to Give

You can donate online via credit card or PayPal, or by mailing a check:

Extend-A-Hand, c/o Opportunity Council, P.O. Box 2134, Bellingham, WA 98227

Donations are tax-deductible. Since the Herald covers administrative costs, donations go fully to impacting lives in our community. If desired, gifts made by the Herald’s donor-recognition deadline will be acknowledged in the newspaper.

The Heart of Extend-A-Hand

For decades, Extend-A-Hand has shown what’s possible when a community comes together. At its heart, it’s is about neighbors lifting up neighbors: one rent deposit, prescription, or bag of groceries at a time. Getting these necessities means more than just making transactions. These are moments where someone in our community feels seen, supported, and reminded that they don’t have to weather a crisis alone.

When the community gives, they’re not just meeting an urgent need. They’re also helping a parent overcome the barriers to the life they want for their kids, and helping someone facing a health challenge get the care they need to keep going. That’s the power of this tradition, and it’s what makes our community stronger year after year. Thank you for helping make that possible again this year.