OUR STORY
Unfortunately, poverty and hunger are real for some Whatcom County children. There may be as many as 14 to 15 percent of children in our communities currently experiencing food anxiety or insecurity. Our elementary schools are doing an incredible job providing free or reduced fee lunches for over 40 percent of children in attendance when schools are in session. On weekends and holidays, it is very likely these children do not have access to enough food and are experiencing hunger.
The food bank ministries do a lot to fill this gap as one in five families regularly ask them for help. It has been estimated that up to 35 percent of food bank assistance provides needed food for children.
As a community, we are faced with many challenges in trying to meet the needs of our children currently in poverty. The biggest being distribution, getting food to children in need.
Open Hands is an outreach program with the mission to eliminate hunger among elementary school children in Whatcom County. Open Hands began in 2017 serving 30 students at Lynden’s Isom Elementary School with weekend meals to bridge the gap of hunger these children were experiencing. The Calvary Creekside church congregation and other community members responded with overwhelming support and leadership.
Open Hands is an all-volunteer organization headquartered at Calvary Creekside Church, 2313 E. Badger Road, Everson, WA 98247.
The food bank ministries do a lot to fill this gap as one in five families regularly ask them for help. It has been estimated that up to 35 percent of food bank assistance provides needed food for children.
As a community, we are faced with many challenges in trying to meet the needs of our children currently in poverty. The biggest being distribution, getting food to children in need.
Open Hands is an outreach program with the mission to eliminate hunger among elementary school children in Whatcom County. Open Hands began in 2017 serving 30 students at Lynden’s Isom Elementary School with weekend meals to bridge the gap of hunger these children were experiencing. The Calvary Creekside church congregation and other community members responded with overwhelming support and leadership.
Open Hands is an all-volunteer organization headquartered at Calvary Creekside Church, 2313 E. Badger Road, Everson, WA 98247.
HOW IT WORKS
Open Hands is currently working to provide food for children in need on weekends by delivering food bags directly to them in their elementary school classrooms every Friday. Each food bag contains non-perishable and easy to prepare food for two breakfasts, three lunch/dinner meals, and two small snacks.
At the beginning of each school year Open Hands distributes sample bags and registration forms to all the elementary schools in the Ferndale, Nooksack, and Meridian School Districts. Parents for children in need complete the registration form and send it with their children to school. Open Hands uses the forms to maintain adequate food inventory and establish delivery needs.
Open Hands volunteers take on weekly shopping responsibilities to supplement the incoming food donations from church and community members to ensure enough food is available to serve all the children in need whose parents have returned the registration forms with their children to school. On Monday mornings volunteers stock shelves and prepare all items needed for packing.
On Sundays at 11:40 am volunteers arrive at the Open Hands area at Calvary Creekside Church to pack and prepare the food bags for weekly Friday morning deliveries.
Each Friday morning teams of volunteers deliver the food bags directly into the classrooms for the children in need where school staff make sure the bags get into the children’s backpacks to be taken home.
At the beginning of each school year Open Hands distributes sample bags and registration forms to all the elementary schools in the Ferndale, Nooksack, and Meridian School Districts. Parents for children in need complete the registration form and send it with their children to school. Open Hands uses the forms to maintain adequate food inventory and establish delivery needs.
Open Hands volunteers take on weekly shopping responsibilities to supplement the incoming food donations from church and community members to ensure enough food is available to serve all the children in need whose parents have returned the registration forms with their children to school. On Monday mornings volunteers stock shelves and prepare all items needed for packing.
On Sundays at 11:40 am volunteers arrive at the Open Hands area at Calvary Creekside Church to pack and prepare the food bags for weekly Friday morning deliveries.
Each Friday morning teams of volunteers deliver the food bags directly into the classrooms for the children in need where school staff make sure the bags get into the children’s backpacks to be taken home.
Open Hands is currently providing weekend food bags for over 860 children.
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Elementary Schools Open Hands is currently Serving:
◇ Everson Elementary – since January 2018
◇ Sumas Elementary – since September 2018
◇ Nooksack Elementary – since September 2018
◇ Custer Elementary – since November 2018
◇ Cascadia Elementary – since December 2018
◇ Central Elementary – since February 2019
◇ Skyline Elementary – since September 2019
◇ Eagleridge Elementary – since September 2019
◇ Mountain View Elementary – since September 2019
◇ Irene Reither Elementary – since February 2021
◇ Now serving Meridian Parent Partnership – 2024
How to get involved:
Shop:
Purchase items from the Open Hands shopping card below
Give:
◇Send a tax-deductible donation below
◇A yearly sponsorship is $272 per child, but any amount helps!
◇A yearly sponsorship is $272 per child, but any amount helps!
Pack:
Volunteer to pack bags at the Open Hands facility located at Calvary Creekside Church Sunday Mornings at 11:40 am.
What our teachers are saying:
“Almost 25% of our school is enrolled in the Open Hands Weekend Food Bag program. It is such an amazing opportunity that helps meet the need of food insecurity for our families… our students are excited every week to get their Open Hands food bag!"
-Caitlin Jacoby | School Counselor | Custer Elementary
"My students look forward to their Open Hands bags every week. They are excited to see what is in it! My students and I both find comfort in the fact they won’t have to worry about being hungry over the weekend. Open Hands is truly a blessing for my students.”
-Kellee Schroeder | 4th Grade Teacher | Central Elementary
"I just wanted to thank Open Hands for their continued support of helping our students! Those students who have signed up to receive the weekly snack bags are very appreciative and I know it has made a huge difference for them. An added bonus is that the delivery staff are always so friendly, and they have such great energy. Thank you, so much, for everything you do for our students!”
-Andrew Larson | 4th Grade Teacher | Cascadia Elementary
Ferndale School District
Ferndale School District
"The Open Hands food bags my students receive each Friday are an absolutely blessing. For many of my students, food insecurity is a daily concern. These bags ensure they have food over the weekend for themselves and their families. This donation is very meaningful to my students, and I am very grateful."
Sam Wood | Kindergarten Teacher | Eagleridge Elementary
We love Open Hands! My students look forward to it every week! Open Hands brings peace of mind that our students will have access to meals over weekends and school breaks. We love that the food provided by Open Hands includes a variety of items including mid-day snacks and meals that are quick and easy to prepare.
Sara Catton | 2nd Grade Teacher | Eagleridge Elementary
Ferndale School District
Ferndale School District
"Open Hands has been providing our families with food and snacks for our young children every Friday during the school year. I am so thankful for this service to our families. I have 6 students that receive these services. Our families are struggling economically. I have one student who is homeless, and this is such a vital service to that family. Other families are living from paycheck to paycheck and the extra food and snacks is so appreciated by the families. Thank you for supporting our community in this way.”
Isabel Farquhar | Developmental Preschool Teacher | Mountain View Learning Center
Ferndale School District
Ferndale School District