Extend-A-Hand donations helped a suddenly jobless mom with kids facing eviction

The Bellingham Herald partners with Unity Care NW and Opportunity Council each winter to conduct the Extend-A-Hand fundraising drive, now in its fifth decade.

Unity Care NW uses Extend-a-Hand funds for prescription costs, vaccinations and other health-related items, while Opportunity Council, which administers the fund, helps families avoid eviction.

Bellingham Herald readers have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the campaign over the years. The need continues to be great as inflation and other increasing costs have hit these organizations’ clients especially hard. Through Thursday, donors had contributed $2,235 to this year’s campaign.

Past donations have helped families like these:

▪ A single mom was working hard to care for her three children — two in grade school and one still a baby. When she unexpectedly lost her job, things quickly fell apart, and the family became homeless.

With the help of Extend-A-Hand and Opportunity Council, she was able to bring her kids to a hotel room where they could all catch their breath, and the search for a permanent home began. Application fees were out of reach for the mom now that she was out of work, but Extend-A-Hand donations covered the cost.

As she sank into the couch in their new rental, arms around her kids, the relief was overwhelming. She could finally imagine a brighter future.

▪ Teresa held her head in her hands. Her son was about to turn 7 — and as a single mom looking for a home, she didn’t have money for a birthday cake. The young family was staying in a hotel with the help of Extend-A-Hand and Opportunity Council while they got back on their feet. Between the cost of her phone bill and keeping the hotel fridge stocked for their meals, there wasn’t much money left over.

She hadn’t mentioned her son’s upcoming birthday, hoping the day would pass quietly without having to disappoint him. But then he came home from school and said, “My teacher said it’s my birthday this week!”

Teresa reached out for help and Extend-A-Hand helped her pay for not just any cake, but a Spider-Man cake. In an unpredictable time, she was able to give her son a birthday to remember.

This year’s donors

The Bellingham Herald will publish a list of donors each week throughout the campaign. Anonymous donations also are accepted. This year’s donors include:

Ed Brinson; Suzann Christie; Esther Harris, In Memory Of George Hunsby; Joan Hawley; Scott and L Amoret Heise; Maple Leaf Chapter, Order of Eastern Star; In memory of Dana Gustafson; George Mustoe; Bill and Penny Roberts; Wynne Toba; Dennis Tso; Samantha Zee.

How to help

We hope you’ll consider also giving to Extend-A-Hand to help local organizations make big differences in small ways for Whatcom County residents who need immediate help with housing and health care all year long.

The Herald covers administrative costs up to $50,000 in donations, so gifts directly support people assisted at Unity Care NW and the Opportunity Council. Donations are tax-deductible, and campaign donors will be recognized in The Herald.

▪ You can mail donation checks to Extend-A-Hand, c/o Opportunity Council, P.O. Box 2134, Bellingham, WA 98227.

▪ Donations are also accepted online via credit card or PayPal or by credit card at www.oppco.org/extend-a-hand, or by calling Katie Rose at 360-734-5121, ext. 1332.