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 Financial Services Past President: Steve Jones, [...]

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 a Whatcom County press release [...]

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 her director position and transitioning [...]

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 in grants for nine solar [...]

BELLINGHAM, Wash., — During COVID, Opportunity Council cannot serve meals to the usual large gatherings of guests at the Maple Alley Inn hot meals program. Meal programs like this were prohibited from opening during Phase 1, and Phase 2  guidelines are so restrictive it would not be safe or feasible to open. Instead, the Maple [...]