Food assistance from the federal government is in limbo, and Blaine businesses and charities are stepping up to provide food for those in need.
With the federal government shutdown now the longest in U.S. history, the Trump administration was ordered on October 31 to resume funding for food stamps through an emergency reserve.
In court filings on November 3, the administration said it would send partial payments this month to the roughly 42 million Americans who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As of press time, much is still up in the air regarding the status of SNAP funding. Meanwhile, thousands of Whatcom County residents will be forced to go without the money to pay for groceries, not knowing exactly when government assistance will resume.
According to state data from March 2025, 903,541 Washingtonians received SNAP benefits, representing 11.2 percent of the state’s population. More than 10 percent of Whatcom County, or 24,050 people, relied on SNAP benefits.
With community members unsure of where their next meal may come, multiple charities, churches and businesses are offering help. Read on for information on where to find free and reduced food and meals as well as ways to donate.
If you know of, or own, a Blaine or Birch Bay business or charity helping feed those in need and would like to be included, email editor@thenorthernlight.com.
500 C Street
360/332-6350
The Blaine Food Bank is open for food distribution from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Friday, and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday. The food bank has been operating in Blaine since 1972, and serves roughly 3,000 households per month, according to director Lisa Dobbin.
If it is your first time visiting the food bank, the organization requires a new client form to be filled out which asks for the person’s name, birthday, address, phone number and names and birth years of the people in their household. The food bank does not ask for proof of name or address. Forms can also be downloaded online at blainefoodbank.org/get-food.
The food bank can only accept food and monetary donations, and cannot accept clothing, household items or other non-food goods. Donations are accepted daily from 9 a.m. to noon, or by appointment. To donate money, visit blainefoodbank.org/donate. For information on how to volunteer, visit blainefoodbank.org/volunteer.
7620 Birch Bay Drive
360/366-8763
The Bridge Community Hope Center Food Bank serves about 65 families every week, according to its website. The center also provides clothes and counseling.
The food bank is open 2:30-4 p.m. every Friday and is always searching for volunteers. To register for the food bank, volunteer or donate, visit thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763.
902 Adelia Street
360/392-8484
The Food Connection program provides surplus food from food service establishments and other sources to Blaine families in need with help from the Miracle Food Network in Ferndale and Sustainable Connections in Bellingham.
Program participants can pick up boxes of pre-packaged individual or family-sized portions each Tuesday between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Blaine Christian Fellowship, 902 Adelia Street. The food and quantity vary by week, according to CAP.
Registration for the program can be done by emailing food@blainecap.org with a name and phone number or by calling 360/392-8484.
Birch Bay residents are urged to contact The Bridge Community Hope Center for food assistance instead of CAP.
736 G Street
360/746-7910
The Blaine Senior Center provides seniors with a community lunch every weekday.
Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The senior center asks for a fee of $6 per meal for seniors or $10 per meal for those under the age of 60, though patrons may pay whatever they can afford.
Food is limited and served on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call 360/332-8040.
738 Peace Portal Drive
360/703-3996
One of Blaine’s local pizza restaurants is offering free slices of leftover pizza every day after the lunch rush, which ends at 2 p.m. Slices are available until they run out.
Border Town employee Kara Massaro said the restaurant has always given out free slices to those who need it, and nothing will change now that more families aren’t receiving food stamps.
“It’s always important to us to give whenever we can,” Massaro said. “We want to make sure we’re not being wasteful. If people are going hungry, we want to help in any way we can.”
Slices that would normally be thrown out are available with no questions asked. Border Town’s owners said those looking for a free slice may call ahead.
1733 H Street, unit 200
360/392-8992
Another Blaine pizza staple announced on social media it will be serving free small pizzas to kids who dine in until SNAP benefits for Washington families return.
The pizza joint near IGA Market will limit one kids pizza per child dining in, no purchase necessary.
“We’re not here to take sides or make this political – we simply believe no child should go hungry,” Westside Pizza wrote in a November 3 Facebook post. “We’re proud to be a part of this community, and during this time, we want to do what we can to support the families who support us.”
Owner Dusty Manderson said the idea to give out free pizza to kids in need came from general manager Hannah Burdett.
Manderson has owned Westside Pizza since its opening in 2022, and said that while the economy has required him to cut hours, the small loss the business takes from feeding hungry kids is always worth it.
763 G Street
360/656-6416
Free community dinners have recently returned to the Blaine Community/Senior Center. On the third Thursday of every month, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 partners with a local business sponsor to serve free, hot meals to the community.
The parks district is planning a classic turkey dinner on November 20. The meal is free, and donations are accepted in person.
Whatcomabc.org/food-guide
360/734-5121
Although Opportunity Council’s Basic Food Outreach program has been suspended with the uncertainty around SNAP funding, the nonprofit has put together an online Food and Meal Resource Guide. The guide can be found at whatcomabc.org/food-guide and features a weekly schedule of local food banks and meal programs. The guide is available in English, Spanish, Russian and Punjabi.
Emily Martens, communications coordinator at Opportunity Council, said the charity will be updating the guide periodically.
Opportunity Council also runs the Maple Valley Inn, which serves hot meals at Faith Lutheran Church at 2750 McLeod Road in Bellingham from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday.
