By Zoe Deal The Community Assistance Program (CAP) held their annual volunteer appreciation evening on May 14 at Peace Arch City Cafe. The event took place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and included drinks and appetizers, a buffet dinner and a short presentation.
“We really just wanted to be able to show our appreciation for all the volunteers that help our community,” said Sarah Zaremba, CAP crisis assistance director.
CAP is an outreach of local churches that offers assistance to the communities of Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts. Volunteers support each and every aspect of outreach, from crisis assistance to clothing donations and community meals. While CAP has no paid staff, they operate under a board of directors, elected annually, and a group of program directors.
Hundreds of CAP volunteers in 2018 worked approximately 6,000 hours, operating the clothing bank, working in teams to offer community meals and helping neighbors with transportation and utility needs. Volunteers work in pairs and teams and are requested to work at least one three-hour shift per month.
The operation is funded entirely by the community, with $47,397 in contributions from individuals, churches, businesses and others in 2018. This allowed CAP, among other things, to support 181 people with emergency assistance totaling $16,808. CAP was also able to serve 270 families with Thanksgiving baskets, complete ready-to-cook turkey dinners available to any family struggling financially.
CAP is always accepting more volunteers. Information can be found on their website at blainecap.org/volunteer.
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