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 services to provide medical care. [...]
This month, many of the communities we serve and live in were devastated by historic floods. While we don’t yet know the full extent of the devastation, we know our hearts break for our friends, families, colleagues, neighbors, and community as a whole. Our spirits are buoyed by the efforts of so many of our [...]
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 program in the War on [...]
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 Lifeline Connections and NW Youth [...]
While the ongoing pandemic continues to impact so many members of our community, the Essential Needs Program is now available to help 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 studies and planning to existing [...]
