CAP launches effort to build new clothing bank

The Community Assistance Program (CAP), a non-profit organization supported by local churches, hopes to construct a new building for its clothing bank, which is currently housed in a shipping container.

Since 2008, the clothing bank has been housed in a modified 8-by-40-foot shipping container located at 500 C Street, adjacent to the Blaine Food Bank. Last year, over 25,000 garments were processed and over 6,000 visits were made to the clothing bank, which provides free clothing for all ages, as well as linens and bedding, to those with financial need.

Usage of the clothing bank has roughly doubled over the past decade. Unfortunately, the shipping container was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. While the container was remodeled with new insulation in 2011, CAP’s volunteers decided that the container exceeded its capacity a long time ago.

“Even from the start, this 320-square-foot space was barely adequate for its intended purpose,” said CAP volunteer Dan DeMent. “With higher levels of donations and use, both clients and volunteers often find working in such tight quarters to be overwhelming.”

CAP now plans to build a new, 1,200-square-foot building just north of the existing clothing bank. The new building will provide a more welcoming and comfortable experience for clients of the clothing bank, said DeMent. It will also offer the ability to process donations more efficiently and to store larger quantities of clothing and linens. The side of the new building will have a generous overhang, protecting CAP’s clothing donation box from the elements and thus preserving the quality of donated items.

In addition to housing the clothing bank, the new “CAP Center” will house the CAP office, which is currently based in the Christ Episcopal Church Annex at 382 Boblett Street. The new office will offer greater privacy for the 200-plus clients who visit CAP every year to request assistance. “The new office will provide the privacy needed for these confidential visits, and having some consistent office hours for our crisis assistance program will provide more ready access to these services,” said DeMent.

For the project, CAP is partnering with Northwood Alliance Church, which is located next door at 580 C Street. The church will own the new building, while CAP will have a 20-year lease. The construction and move-in costs for the CAP Center are estimated to be approximately $120,000, and CAP hopes to break ground in the spring.

Currently, $32,000 has been set aside for the project. “We have enough to start design work and the permitting process, but we’ll have to see how the fundraising goes,” said DeMent. He said that CAP plans to raise funds for the project by conducting a mail drive.

Anyone interested in contributing to the project can visit blainecap.org to make a one-time donation or set up ongoing monthly contributions. Checks may be made out to CAP and sent to CAP Center, P.O. Box 1067, Blaine, WA 98231. The organization is also hoping to receive in-kind donations and fundraising assistance, and those who would like to get involved may email info@blainecap.org.