This year’s Extend-A-Hand campaign reaches $40K, and there’s still time to help

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, Jan. 31, donors had contributed $40,600 to this year’s campaign.

Past donations have helped families like this:

Each morning a single dad packed up his daughter’s backpack, checked the gas gauge, and did the math in his head. He was determined to get her to school on time and keep routines intact even though he was out of a job — and transportation costs were taking away from the monthly rent.

He had just enrolled in a training program to build a career in the trades and signed up for public benefits. He was picking up odd jobs wherever he could. But it still wasn’t enough. A tank of gas or a trip to the grocery store could mean falling behind on bills and losing their home again.

That’s where Extend-A-Hand donors came in: Generous neighbors helped cover fuel and groceries, keeping the family moving forward. The dad was able to put food on the table and get his daughter to school so she could keep learning. Most of all, he’s rebuilding his life to be the dad his daughter can count on. With his community behind him, he’s showing up with care and determination, one day at a time.”

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; Dick and Karlene Cathell; Suzann Christie; Ray and Lynda Colliver; Linda Conroy; Judy Coons; Laura Creekman; Linda Ann Cundiff; Bill and Kathy Denney; Carol and Tom Derleth; Martha Dyck; Jim and Kathleen Feagles; Varya Grace Fish; Bob Garbe; Quentin and Judith Gates; Jim and Lynne Glenovich; Kim and Kevin Goertz; William and Susan Green; Catherine Hagen, in memory of Lee Hagen; 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; Paula Johnson; Roy and Vickie Jones; Dolores Karlstrom; 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; Cynthia Mitchell; P.A. and R.L. Muehlhausen; George Mustoe; Bob and Lois Nicholl; Janet Ott; Cheryl Peach; Bonnie Pendleton; Bruce Radtke; Rochelle and Carl Ratcliff; 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; Karen Sloss; Brian and Dana Smith; Solo Electric Services; 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 January 10, 2026 at 5:15 AM with the headline "This year’s Extend-A-Hand campaign reaches $40K, and there’s still time to help."