Wow!  What a year 2024 was for Interfaith Coalition!  Lots of changes and new faces.  We are so excited about the transformation that is happening within the organization.  With new partnerships in housing, we are re-imagining our role in the community and asking what is our strength and how can we harness it to do the most good?  Our vision and mission are quite clear: we are a coalition of faith communities who have come together to serve others, believing we can more together than as individuals or faith communities working alone.  This is what Interfaith is all about.  With its roots in providing medical care 40 years ago (now Unity Care NW), to picking up the housing cause (which Opportunity Council now leads), Interfaith will continue because of our Member Faith Communities.

Housing remains our largest effort. We have 10 units housing a Ukrainian refugee family and clients of the Opportunity Council. Interfaith maintains the homes and subsidizes the cost to tenants by paying for water, sewer, and garbage services.  CAST is our food program that operates four days a week in Bellingham. We are expanding to five nights a week.  These programs depend on the continued support of individual donors and Faith Communities. But what is next? 

We are talking with our faith community stakeholders to identify their existing programs that Interfaith can promote, encourage others to copy, or offer administrative or financial support to make stronger. We are asking the question, “What needs exist that we could address together”? One such idea is called Beacon of Hope.  This isn’t new; we have provided rental assistance for years.  In the past, this was grant funded.  This new program is different.  We will become a collaborative source of funds that our faith communities can refer people to. We will help with things like a minor car repair or rental assistance.  The goal is to help people stay housed, employed, and take the next step in housing stability, by offering support before a crisis begins.  Funding will come from individuals, Faith Communities and Grants. 

An identified need is resource mapping across faith communities and agencies.  We want to have an answer to the question, “Where can we refer people”, and “Who is doing work in that area”. 

Lastly, we are spending time rebuilding community and collaboration.  Faith Leaders and Member Liaisons are gathering. We are bringing back the multifaith choir festival.  We welcome your questions and dialog as Interfaith writes its next chapter of service to our neighbors. 

Jen Callaghan and Shawn Dooley, Interim Co-Executive Directors

“Holiday Joy” unites individuals of various faiths and backgrounds, fostering a meaningful experience for all participants. This long time Interfaith partnership program collaborates with the Opportunity Council, businesses, individuals, and faith communities, to solicit and distribute gifts from a child’s toy to a new pair of shoes. 

In recent years, Sharon Camblin and Diane Cooper-Schick have co-chaired Holiday Joy, following in the footsteps of Mona Garcia Slagle and John Slagle. The program model has changed. Rather than using tags specifying wants or needs for an individual, donors now collect and organize gifts by category, inviting parents or caregivers to “shop” for an appropriate gift for their child or family. The “empowering” change has been enthusiastically received.

Last year, “Holiday Joy” received a wonderful donation of handmade stockings.  Small items such as small toys, snacks, and personal items were collected as stocking stuffers. This innovative approach significantly expanded the number of families served, with a total increase of 103% over the past three years. Additionally new and gently used books were distributed, along with gift cards for families to purchase anything else needed to make their holiday memorable.

When asked about her motivation for volunteering, Diane Cooper-Schick stated, “The winter holiday season can be especially difficult for families experiencing significant financial challenges. Some of that stress is eased through the Holiday Joy program. The resources provided may be “a drop in the bucket” compared to systemic inequality, but it’s a meaningful, effective drop for participants, who are deeply grateful.”

 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sharon Camblin and Diane Cooper-Schick for their dedication, love, and time invested in making “Holiday Joy” a remarkable success.

One good idea leads to the next at United Church of Ferndale. Before the pandemic, the congregation hosted two community meals and one pancake breakfast a month. A discussion about how to wash the table clothes and a concern about Interfaith Family Promise families needing a place to do laundry and shower, led to the congregation taking action. It installed a washing/dryer unit and shower in an unused alcove. Today, the shower and laundry facilities are available three days a week to anyone who needs them. 

An Eagle Scout project in 2018 evolved into two “Blessing Boxes” where community members drop off shelf stable food in front of the church and others come by to pick up what they need. It is a self-policing “leave what you can, take what you need” program.

Similarly, the 8th grade advisory class at nearby Horizon Middle School learned about the challenge foot care poses for unhoused people. They started a sock drive. United Church of Ferndale now houses the “Sock Box” in front of the building where socks are donated and distributed on a self-serve basis.

“Any faith community could do what we do”, said Reverend Joel Aosved, Pastor of United Church of Ferndale. He added, “Our faith leads us to do what we can to be good neighbors”.

After two decades as a stand-alone organization, the past several being fiscally sponsored by Interfaith Coalition, “Coffee and Sandwiches Together” (CAST) is now a program of Interfaith. We are responsible for the administration and funding for the nearly 10,000 meals served annually. The former CAST board is now an advisory committee to the Interfaith Program committee, and responsible for the day to day operations of purchasing, sandwich making, transport, and serving guests on the corner behind the Bellingham Public Library four nights a week.

With Interfaith’s direct support, the tables, garbage cans, transport carts, and serving supplies are being upgraded to improve the safety and convenience for volunteers and the hospitality experience for our guests. 

Additional volunteers are being recruited to increase service to five nights a week. With support from the current CAST funding appeal, we hope to begin the expanded service by Spring.     Help us get to 5 night by donating here!

At the January meeting, the Board approved an improved version of Interfaith Rental Assistance. Last year, we provided ~$20,000 in assistance to local families that needed emergency rental assistance. We did this by working with Bellingham school family liaisons.

This year, as grant dollars are harder to come by, we are reimagining this program to be more than just rental assistance through school districts. By pooling resources and donations from faith communities, we hope to provide emergency assistance across Whatcom County: rent, a car repair, or a tank of gas. Together we can say yes more often.

Help us kick start this program by donating here!