Whatcom group dedicated to helping neighbors amid coronavirus becomes ‘a place of hope’

As Washington residents are practically home-bound in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, Whatcom County neighbors have stepped up to help one another.

Sandi Heinrich of Bellingham had been toying with the idea of creating a Facebook group for people to help others as social distancing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health departments ramped up. On Friday, March 13, Heinrich took her dogs for a walk and created the Bellingham Covid-19 Community Helpers public group on Facebook.

That afternoon, there were roughly 40 members. As of Friday, March 20, there were 5,357, with spin-off group pages dedicated to each city across Whatcom County. Those all had at least 150 members each as of Friday afternoon, too.

Heinrich said she created the group because she felt it was something that was going to become necessary, especially to stop further spread of the novel coronavirus. Heinrich said she normally works from home, and is healthy, but that she knows there’s a lot of immuno-compromised and elderly people who will need help.

“People need a positive place to put their energy when something like this is going on. They’re anxious, and it helps to feel like you can do something to help,” Heinrich said. “I want it to be a very positive space for people to encourage each other and meet needs as they come up.”

The group is simple — there are posts dedicated to each of the neighborhoods across Bellingham looking for “health helpers” in each area who are willing and able to run errands for those who can’t. People can comment there if they’re in need, or there’s also a separate post dedicated solely for neighbors in need. Helpers can then reach out to those whose needs they can meet. Heinrich said she and a few others are also working on setting up a hotline for people in need to call, which should be available later this week.

“I’m realizing that this has become a place of hope and a pillar of good feeling for our community. We need that. A lot of people need that,” Heinrich said. “We have a beautiful community. … We have been divided for so long now, it feels like some healing is taking place and we’re getting to focus on good people who are willing to do good with each other.”

Running errands

Heinrich said the group is dedicated mostly to running essential errands, but that other needs, such as caring for each other’s children or finding work with the closures of schools and bars and restaurants statewide, have also popped up. She said requests for help have been coming in as more people become aware of the group.

Heinrich said the group follows the CDC and health department guidelines for social distancing and limiting exposure when running the errands or helping those in need. There’s a post dedicated to safety guidelines that helpers, as well as those being helped, are expected to follow.

“I just want people to know that we’re going to get through this, and it’s going to happen together. It’s going to be hard, but we will be OK. We want to keep the numbers in Whatcom as low as possible, and it’s up to us to do that,” she said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, six Whatcom County residents had been diagnosed with coronavirus, according to the state and Whatcom County Health Department.

Prescription pick-up

Pandora Hunter learned about the group through Heinrich’s mother, who is a friend. Hunter, 60, said she and her 71-year-old husband, Micheal, thought it might fill a need for them.

Hunter said her husband is disabled and has metastatic cancer and both have been fighting a flu for the past few weeks, putting them in the high-risk category for the coronavirus. Hunter, who lives off of Lummi Shore, realized over the weekend that her husband’s prescriptions were going to run out. But they were on the opposite side of Bellingham.

Hunter got in touch with the group, and Heinrich picked up the prescriptions and brought them to her, Hunter said. She said they appreciated the gesture.

“I think it’s a really great thing. We’re not really people who would reach out and ask for help, however, life is changing and the circumstances that surround this whole COVID-19 virus kind of made us say ‘we need help.’ And it’s hard to say you need help, but it’s just wonderful to know that out there there are people willing to go that extra mile and help out elderly veterans,” Hunter said. “It’s heartwarming to know the community is still there for each other.”

Grocery delivery

Rhianna Miller said she brought basic groceries to a woman who has an immune disorder. Miller said the woman, who doesn’t drive, was afraid to leave her house. Miller said in addition to the groceries, she also gave the woman hand sanitizer, tissues and wet wipes. She said she made sure to use gloves and wipe down the groceries and bag before giving them to the woman.

“We’re not affected by anything going on and we have the resources to help people out. This is a time of crisis. This is usually the time where we really need to step up for those who can’t,” Miller said. “You never know who might need help. …I don’t mind risking myself because I am a healthy person.”

Like Miller, Emily Hie said she felt the need to help. Hie said she feels lucky to be in a situation where her income will remain stable and that it comforts her to find opportunities to help where she can.

“I’m always looking for ways to create and contribute to community support systems that can bring people closer together, and I think that during situations like the one we’re currently experiencing, it’s even more important and worthwhile to do so,” Hie said. “It makes me feel hopeful to see people putting their heads together to creatively solve problems.”

Finding ways to help

Hie and her husband helped a woman with groceries and laundry detergent. The woman is staying with a friend and didn’t want to deplete the friend’s resources. Hie said she and her husband ordered groceries online and had them delivered to the woman’s address.

Hie, who is pregnant, said she was worried she wouldn’t be able to follow social distancing guidelines and be as active in the group, but that she’s still found ways to help.

“I’m hopeful that the group will continue to grow and thrive throughout this duration,” she said.

Wendy Isenhart recently had surgery and her doctors recommended she and her family stay home. She realized they were running out of toilet paper and milk and made a post in a different Facebook group. Someone there referred her to the community helpers group instead. Isenhart said she made a post, and she and her family had two helpers who met each of their needs.

“We have a kind community where people actually care about each other. It’s really a blessing to live in Whatcom County,” Isenhart said. “We live in a great place. Everybody is willing to take care of each other, it’s really special.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.