Blog

Resilience Fund – Flood Resources Update

As of December 3, Whatcom Community Foundation through its Resilience Fund, and
working with Whatcom Strong, has made 22 grants totaling $816,000 to 15 organizations
working on the ground in the communities impacted by flood. The Resilience Fund is our
community’s emergency bounce-back fund. It puts philanthropic (i.e. private) dollars to work
providing emergency assistance, such as financial support, food or childcare, to our
community’s most vulnerable neighbors as fast as possible in a crisis, whether a pandemic, a
flood or other disaster. Every dollar raised here stays here and 100% of all donations made to
the Resilience Fund are currently being granted for flood relief.

Whatcom Strong is one trusted resource for all information regarding Whatcom County flood
relief. Their Online Resource can connect people to the help they need or can provide. You
can sign up to volunteer where help is needed most and donate to help our neighbors.
Total costs associated with the floods are currently estimated at $50 million and may go
higher. Right now, there simply is not enough money to give people everything they need to
return to pre-flood conditions. Philanthropy, such as the Resilience Fund, is the fastest and
most flexible money available in a crisis: it is private money for public good. Philanthropic
dollars are critical to help stabilize people, and they are nowhere near enough to solve the
long-term challenges associated with a disaster. Lasting solutions for housing, infrastructure
and business recovery hinge on local, state and government relief and recovery funding.
Primary organizations that have received funding to date are: Sumas Advent Christian
Church, Valley Church (Nooksack), Haven Church (Everson), First Reformed Church of
Lynden, Ferndale Community Resource Center, Food banks in affected communities,
Catholic Community Services, among others.

These funds are making it possible for these organizations to distribute:
– Direct aid (checks and gift cards) for necessities like food, shelter, gas
– Food, via area food banks
– Storage and cleanup supplies, such as bins, work gloves, fans.

“We are so grateful to those who have donated to the Resilience Fund and humbled to be a
part of disbursing that funding. We’ve focused our efforts on families in the Nooksack area
that had flood waters inside their homes. The need is overwhelming, but this support has
been a boost to people, letting them know they are not alone – that people care,” said Kyle
Hopkins, Lead Pastor, Valley Church in Everson.

The Whatcom Community Foundation not only steps up when disaster strikes. Its day-to-day
work is to connect people, ideas, and resources so that everyone in Whatcom County can
thrive. The Foundation has been serving Whatcom County for 25 years and has invested
nearly $52 million toward community health, happiness and prosperity since 1996.