Bellingham, Ferndale severe weather shelters open for Christmas holidays
The severe weather shelters in Bellingham and Ferndale will be open overnight for those in need on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter is located at 925 N. Forest St. It operates between November and March, opening on nights when temperatures are forecasted to drop to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
It will open at 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. Individuals can check in between 4 and 8 p.m. Check-out is at 8 a.m. the next morning.
The shelter is located on WTA Route 1, just after the intersection of N. Forest St. and Laurel St. Street parking is available, but the shelter has no dedicated parking spots for guests.
The shelter has 60 beds for guests, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited storage space is available for personal items. Service, emotional support and therapy animals are welcome in the shelter. Although shelter staff may request an animal be crated if it is causing disruption.
The shelter is seeking meal donations from professional kitchens and shelf-stable, pre-packaged single-serving items. For donations of 60 or more servings, email wintershelter@co.whatcom.wa.us to arrange a delivery in advance. Donation guidelines can be found at shelterstatus.com.
The Ferndale Severe Weather Shelter is located at 2034 Washington St. at the United Church of Ferndale. It operates between November and March overnight when temperatures drop to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or 34 degrees or colder and one inch of snow or rain is predicted.
It will open at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. Individuals can check in between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Check-out is at 9 a.m. the next morning. Off-street parking is available.
The shelter has 15 beds for guests, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Ferndale shelter also allows animals. But staff may request an animal be crated if it is causing disruption.
