Bellingham’s Ragfinery thrift shop surpasses fundraising goal after suffering fire damage
Just four days after a fire significantly damaged Ragfinery, a well-loved Bellingham thrift shop, creative space and textiles store, the nonprofit announced it received enough community donations to pay its retail staff through the end of January.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which started on the outside of the building and remains under investigation. The building at 1421 N Forest St. sustained moderate fire damage and significant water damage, according to Bellingham Fire Department Capt. Dustin Michaelis.
Due to the extent of the damage, Ragfinery said it would pause operations for the foreseeable future.
“We are assuming most of our inventory has been lost to smoke and water damage, and the building’s repair lies in the hands of its owners, who are taking all necessary precautions for fire recovery. This is going to be a slow process as we work with our insurance and the property owners work with theirs,” the nonprofit said in a Jan. 2 update.
The community raised more than $25,000 by Thursday to help support Ragfinery and its team. Anything raised beyond its initial goal of $23,000 will go toward supporting Ragfinery’s baseline operations, according to the nonprofit.
“We are deeply grateful for the strength and support of this community. So many of you have offered to volunteer, collaborate, and lend a hand as we recover from this devastating fire. For now, we continue to take things day by day, but we will reach out when the time comes to mobilize,” the nonprofit said in the update.
Ragfinery also announced that despite the damage sustained by the fire, its winter workshops, including Coiled Basket Weaving, Beginning Knitting and Beginning Quilting, are expected to proceed as scheduled.
Businesses or organizations with available space for hosting workshops can email workshops@ragfinery.com.
