Latest News
Improving Homes for 38 Families
A recent Opportunity Council project improved energy efficiency and air quality for a multi-family property, meaning more comfort and lower energy bills for 38 families. Opportunity Council’s Weatherization Team typically works on single-family homes owned or rented by income-qualified community members. However, the team wanted to share the energy [...]
Community Energy Challenge
Looking to save on your utility costs and environmental impact? Unlike most Opportunity Council services, our Community Energy Challenge (CEC) partnership with Sustainable Connections is available to anyone, regardless of income. This fee-for-service program has helped homeowners with energy efficiency improvements since 2010 in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San [...]
East Whatcom Early Learning gets electric school bus
In remote East Whatcom communities served by our East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, children in the center’s Early Learning programs will be transported emission-free to receive their educations. This is thanks to EWRRC Head Start’s new electric school bus, unveiled on March 20th at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The bus [...]
Provider Appreciation Day 2023
Today marks an opportunity to honor the essential role of child care providers in our communities: National Provider Appreciation Day. These child care professionals, teachers and educators of young children are the reason kids get the support they need for early development. To highlight why these providers need to be [...]
Community Action Month
May is Community Action Month. While you may have never heard of it, celebrating this month is meaningful to all the Community Action Agencies like Opportunity Council, which are part of a national network making communities stronger so that families and individuals can thrive. Opportunity Council, along with many [...]
Catherine Mahaffey East Whatcom Wellness Fair 2023
Come stop by the second annual Catherine Mahaffey East Whatcom Wellness Fair on May 20! Free services and resources will be offered by local health providers. The fair will also offer entertainment, a free handcrafted lunch from the Common Threads Food Truck, snacks, and activities for all stages of [...]
Dine Out, invest in Whatcom
The arrival of May means Whatcom County residents can support our volunteer-driven Maple Alley Inn program that’s been fighting hunger since 1987, just by celebrating local restaurants. During this monthlong event, anyone can participate by checking out the Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn website, or scrolling below, and choosing a [...]
Dining in Community
As we approach our Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn fundraiser in May, it’s a great opportunity to highlight the good that Maple Alley Inn does in Whatcom County. What is Maple Alley Inn? Maple Alley Inn is Opportunity Council’s hot meals program, which offers the benefits of a [...]
Breaking Barriers: Access ID Clinic
JR* arrived at the first Access ID clinic certain he'd be told he was out of luck. His landlord had unceremoniously and illegally evicted him and, worse, thrown away all of his belongings including his ID and birth certificate. An experienced welder, he'd been eager to start work, but having [...]
Tax Help in Whatcom County
Earned Income Tax Credit and Working Families Tax Credit: What’s the Deal? What you need to know and where to get hassle-free help Tax season is overwhelming for everyone, but you don’t have to weather it alone. Free, easy services open to all can help you with your [...]
Tax Help in Island County
Earned Income Tax Credit and Working Families Tax Credit: What’s the Deal? What you need to know and where to get hassle-free help Tax season is overwhelming for everyone, but you don’t have to weather it alone. Free, easy services open to all can help you with your [...]
Mortgage Assistance Available
The Island County Community Resource Center will pay mortgage arrears only for qualifying households. This service is valid for no more than 6 consecutive months. Households will have to meet this initial screening criteria: Current income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income Has documented financial need (loss [...]
Tax Help for Working Families
Washington State individuals and families can now apply for a new benefit on their tax returns called the Working Families Tax Credit. Whether stopping short of applying because of the overwhelming amount of information to sift through, or finding this credit to be completely new, these individuals and families may [...]
Laurel Forest Groundbreaking & Project Update
Over the next several weeks, the following updates are taking place at the Laurel Forest Project. Underground utilities, such as sewer and water services, will be brought into the site. This means that sidewalks will continue to be closed off. Building foundations will begin to take shape. During the [...]
Embracing the spirit of service: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
As we celebrate the profound impact and accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, many events will give us the chance to do so in our own communities. The annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Conference put on by Whatcom Human Rights Task Force kicked off [...]
We’re hiring! Open Positions in Early Learning & Family Services
Love the idea of helping infants and children get the start in life they deserve? Consider joining the Early Learning & Family Services Team here at Opportunity Council! Bilingual Child Care Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator- Skagit County & Bilingual Child Care Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator- Whatcom County: Develop and [...]
Jump into service with AmeriCorps VISTA
Updated January 31 Are you interested in nonprofit work? Maybe you’re looking for more hands-on learning about nonprofit management than in a typical internship. You can find this by volunteering for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program with Opportunity Council. VISTA is part of AmeriCorps, a federal agency that [...]
Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day
Why we honor those who are too often forgotten On December 21, 2022, Opportunity Council and the Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness extend an invitation to their annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. The event is put on each year to remind our community that people experiencing homelessness are a [...]
5 Ways to Give This #GivingTuesday
There's lots of ways to join Giving Tuesday and support Opportunity Council on this global day of giving. In no particular order, our top 5 ways to support Opportunity Council this year: Give Time Opportunity Council is a Community Action Agency, and there's no more potent community action than volunteering. [...]
Medicare Open Enrollment is Here and SHIBA can help
Opening October 15th and running through December, the Medicare open enrollment period can be an overwhelming time. Which plan to choose? Should you switch or stay? Thankfully, The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is available to help people navigate the system and make the choice that's best for [...]
Opportunity Council Celebrates Weatherization Day
October 30th marks the 46th annual celebration of National Weatherization Day—an event that highlights the impact of the Weatherization Assistance Program, one of the core programs administered by Opportunity Council. The critical services provided by Opportunity Council help improve the efficiency, durability, health, and safety of the places people call [...]
Local leaders partner to help children, adults and families find a place to call home.
On October 4th, Opportunity Council staff sat down with local officials and Senator Patty Murray for a roundtable discussion on a future Senator Murray and Greg Winter look on as Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood and Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu discuss housing in Whatcom County. housing facility dedicated [...]
Every child deserves a great start
We can all agree that the most important thing we can do for children is to make sure they have what they need to thrive and learn. You can help that happen. Supporting the Back-2-Basics campaign this summer and fall. Make a financial gift online or mail your donation to [...]
Love, Grit, Hope & Strength: One Family’s Journey with Head Start
Wesley, a master at problem-solving and taking apart small appliances, is supported here by the author and partner. The following is from the parent of five graduates of Mt. Baker Head Start, one of the early learning programs managed by Opportunity Council. A version of this testimonial also [...]
Observing Juneteenth
Beginning in 2021, Juneteenth was established as both a state and federal holiday, but the history of Juneteenth starts more than 150 years ago. 2022 marks Opportunity Council’s first year of recognizing Juneteenth as a staff holiday (observed on June 20th). In honor of the holiday, we ask our staff, community, and [...]
Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn returns with new format
After two years of pandemic restrictions and canceled public events, Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn returned in person to Whatcom County in May. With options for every meal and occasion, Opportunity Council supporters dined out to benefit the whole community. Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn is a signature [...]
Free Health Screenings and Other Services Available at East Whatcom Regional Resource Center Health and Wellness Fair
On Saturday, May 21, the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center in Maple Falls will be transformed into a healthcare center, offering free health, vision, and dental services at the Catherine Mahaffey East Whatcom Wellness Fair! Free services and resources will be offered by local providers including PeaceHealth, Sea Mar Community [...]
Finding Meaning by Giving to Others
Volunteer Spotlight: SHIBA Volunteer Scott Opsahl Whatcom County Volunteer Scott Opsahl recently took the time to answer our volunteer questionnaire. To learn more about volunteering through the Whatcom Volunteer Center, please visit their website. When did you decide to start volunteering? What attracted you to the SHIBA Program? [...]
2021 Flood Recovery
In November 2021, many of the communities we serve and live in were devastated by historic floods. While it's hard to know the full extent of the damage, we know our hearts were broken for our friends, families, colleagues, neighbors, and community as a whole. Our spirits were buoyed [...]
Extend-a-Hand: Raising funds for health, homes, and families
The Extend-a-Hand Campaign through the Bellingham Herald kicks off it's 5th decade raising funds to help individuals and families in Whatcom County. The local newspaper covers all administrative costs of the campaign, ensuring all funds raised go directly to helping others through Opportunity Council housing programs and Unity Care NW [...]
October is Head Start Awareness Month
Since 1965, Head Start has been a cornerstone in the fight against poverty, and one of the most effective tools our community has for ensuring every child has the start to life they deserve. First established by the Office of Economic Opportunity in the summer of 1965 as a flagship [...]
Foundations for New Housing & Childcare Space Taking Shape
Affordable Housing and Childcare. Two fundamental resources our community consistently tells us are in short supply, as evidenced once again in this year’s most recent Prosperity Project (Opportunity Council’s Community Needs Assessment). We strive to meet this need in a variety of ways from developing housing projects with partners like [...]
Helping make ends meet for Whidbey Island
Island County's Essential Needs Program helps Whidbey Island friends and neighbors with practical needs like housing set-up expenses, utilities, and one-time extraordinary expenses like car repairs. Created by the Goosefoot Community Fund and Whidbey Island Community Foundation to help members of the Whidbey Island community when no other existing assistance [...]
Board elects 2021-22 officers
The Opportunity Council's board of directors elected officers at their April 22 meeting in Bellingham. The 2021-22 board officers are: President: Mark Tompkins, San Juan County Health & Community Services Vice President: Rebecca Boonstra, East Whatcom Community Council Treasurer: Paul Stermer, Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery Secretary: Ozell Jackson, Homebridge [...]
Volunteers provide critical support
Local volunteers have played an important role since the beginning of the pandemic. The Opportunity Council’s Volunteer Center of Whatcom County helped recruit volunteers to deliver thousands of pounds of food weekly and Unified Command volunteers provided critical support during the first few months of the pandemic. Below are excerpts from [...]
New Island County director hired
The Opportunity Council announced today that Melissa Frasch-Brown has been hired as the director of the agency’s Island County service center. She began April 16 as the current director, Lisa Clark, steps down to provide administrative and technical support. Clark announced in February that she is stepping back from [...]
Clean energy projects will reduce energy burden for low-income households, nonprofit housing providers
Washington State Department of Commerce announced $3.7 million was awarded for solar installations benefitting low-income communities. The Opportunity Council's East Whatcom Regional Resource Center was among the recipients. Below are excerpts from the state press release. (February 25, 2021) -- The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $3.7 million [...]
New venture strives to address child care shortage
Regional Center will work collaboratively with higher education, workforce development, local business associations and others. BELLINGHAM, Wash., -- Opportunity Council and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to open the new Northwest Center for Child Care Retention & Expansion. The Center will provide business technical assistance, coaching, feasibility [...]
