A rousing cheer to Regal Entertainment Group and the thousands of community members who watched a $2 movie Dec. 10-12 at the new Regal Barkley Village theater complex. Movie, popcorn and soda proceeds added up to $29,000 for our Extend-A-Hand charity.

In three days, Regal says more than 23,500 moviegoers raised at total of $97,000 for local charities. In addition to Extend-A-Hand, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County will receive $30,000 and Bellingham Food Bank will receive $38,000. Well done!

A big thank you, too, to community members who have already given $19,070 to Extend-A-Hand this year to help low-income Whatcom County residents move into and keep rental housing and to obtain medical prescriptions.

The Opportunity Council, a nonprofit social service agency, oversees the housing donations for Extend-a-Hand. The prescriptions are dispensed by staff at Interfaith Community Health Center. The Bellingham Herald covers administrative costs, so the donations directly support needy people.

Tax-deductible donations can be mailed or taken to: Extend-a-Hand, c/o Opportunity Council, 1111 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Credit card donations are accepted. For more information, please call Sheri Emerson at 360-734-5121, ext. 301.

Reach JULIE SHIRLEY at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.