Extend-A-Hand campaign nearing 15K; here’s how donations help locals in need
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 Wednesday, donors had contributed $13,560 to this year’s campaign.
Past donations have helped families like this:
A local family had been living out of their car for weeks. At night, they brought their 3-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to a nearby church so the kids could sleep indoors — there wasn’t enough room for all four of them inside. It was a nightly separation that broke their parents’ hearts. Every evening ended the same way: hugs at a church doorway and parents returning to the car alone. With help from Opportunity Council, the family kept searching for a home. When they finally found the right place, the hundreds of dollars of application fees made a move feel impossible, but Extend-A-Hand covered the cost so that the family could secure an apartment. Reunited in their new home, they’re finally rebuilding their lives, all under one roof.”
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:
Susan Albert; G & B Anderson; Jeanette Beck; The MacGregor Family and Juldi Berick; Bomstad Heck Family Fund; Ed Brinson; Barbara Campbell; Suzann Christie; Linda Conroy; Judy Coons; Laura Creekman; Linda Ann Cundiff; Bill and Kathy Denney; Carol and Tom Derleth; Martha Dyck; Varya Grace Fish; Bob Garbe; Quentin and Judith Gates; Jim and Lynne Glenovich; William and Susan Green; Esther Harris, in memory Of George Hunsby; Joan Hawley; The Bellingham Herald newsroom; Scott and L Amoret Heise; Mark and Joan Hottinger; Nick and Donna Jerns; Tom and Colleen Jerns; Rob Johansen, in memory of Susan C. Johansen; Roy and Vickie Jones; Betty Kellow; Shelley Korstad; J. A. Lancaster; Rosalee MacDonald in memory of Dr. Mac; The MacGregor Family and Judi Berick; Maple Leaf Chapter, Order of Eastern Star; Michael and Kerry Messer; In memory of Dana Gustafson; P.A. and R.L. Muehlhausen; George Mustoe; Bob and Lois Nicholl; Cheryl Peach; Bruce Radtke; Sue Oiness Richardson, in loving memory of my parents, Melvin and Idris Oiness; Bill and Penny Roberts; Marguerite and Ken Ryan, in memory of Rose and Joe Formichella; Shirley Family; JoAn Siden, in memory of John and Nina Sternhagen; Brian and Dana Smith; Sons Of Norway Wergeland Lodge #21; Jack and Sandie Starr; Bev and Jim Sturek; Terry and Joeen Daughters; The Hawkes Family Trust; Wynne Toba; Dennis Tso; Jeanne Uhles; Nick Vitaljic; John and Gail Wasilewski; Carl and Carol Weimer; John and Kathy Whitmer; Jon Wilkerson, in memory of Daniel Wilkerson; Sylvia Williams, in memory of Penny Bradley; Samantha Zee; Cheryl Zimmerman.
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.
This story was originally published December 27, 2025 at 5:15 AM with the headline "Extend-A-Hand campaign nearing 15K; here’s how donations help locals in need."