Food bank receives big donations amid growing need

After a relatively normal March and April, in terms of the number of people served, the Blaine Food Bank is seeing a growing number of customers, said operations manager Sally Church. In early May, donations helped feed the roughly 460 families supported by the Food Bank, which is an increase from about 400 families per week that was typical before the virus.

Members of the Blaine High School Associated Student Body raised $2,850 and collected 220 pounds of food for the food bank from May 1-8 during a food drive at Semiahmoo.

The ASB members, Samantha and Stephanie Boczek, along with incoming eighth-grader Sabrina Boczek, announced the food drive with help from the Semiahmoo community newsletter.

“On behalf of the Blaine High School Associated Student Body we would like to extend a special thank you to all the residents of Semiahmoo who gave so generously to the Blaine Food Bank in our recent food drive,” the sisters said in an email. “We took a brief tour of the Blaine facilities today and were humbled to see so many familiar faces and community members volunteering their time on a beautiful sunny Saturday, working hard to sort, prepare and package food.”

The girls are still receiving donations from the Semiahmoo community and have plans for a future food drive.

Whatcom Land Title Co. and its employees recently donated $3,810 to four food banks in Whatcom County, including the Blaine Food Bank.

Whatcom Land Title Co. originally planned to give $1,500, equivalent to $20 per employee, to support individuals and families suffering during the Covid-19 crisis.

“When our fantastic team heard of the upcoming donation, they immediately asked if they could contribute along with the company and within a matter of hours, they donated an additional $2,310,” said Colleen Baldwin, owner and CEO of Whatcom Land Title Co., in a May 6 press release. “We are so proud of our employees who also are actively involved in supporting organizations that make our communities better.”

The combined donation was shared by food banks serving the Bellingham, Ferndale, Deming/Kendall and Blaine communities.

Whatcom Land Title Co. offers title insurance and escrow services. It has been locally owned since its launch in 1982 and has branches in Bellingham (2011 Young Street), Blaine (8105 Birch Bay Square Street) and Lynden (507 Front Street).