Bellingham organization launches Mother’s Day fundraiser for immigrant moms
With the rise in deportations in Whatcom County, many families have been separated, and many single mothers suddenly finding themselves the sole caregiver and provider for their children.
With Mother’s Day in mind, Immigration Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS) has launched a fundraiser to provide groceries to 20 immigrant single mothers who are guardians to more than 58 children across Whatcom and Skagit counties. Many have either seen their partner deported or left a relationship due to domestic violence.
Bellingham-based IRIS works to provide resources to immigrant families, primarily women and children, who are living in poverty.
Whatcom County had the third-highest number of per capita Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests across all Washington counties in 2025, according to data released by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights.
The goal is to raise $500 per mother for a total of $10,000. The money is to be used on groceries, including food and necessities such as hygiene supplies and clothing, Keeley Mathis, program assistant at IRIS, told The Bellingham Herald.
The fundraiser is open until the end of Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 10. Donations can be made through the IRIS website.
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