About Us

Our all-volunteer group formed at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, in response to the unmet basic needs of students and families in Bellingham Public Schools. We were inspired by a 2017 Bellingham Public Schools PACS (Parent Advisory Committee to the Superintendent) presentation by Isabel Meaker (Executive Director, Family Engagement). Meaker spoke about the great needs and challenges experienced by a number of students and families in schools across the district, such as: 

• Loss of employment, housing, or access to healthcare; 

• Unexpected physical and mental health challenges; 

• Students who are “unaccompanied minors” who aren’t looked after by an adult; and 

• Students who arrive from other countries, fleeing war or violence, and speak little or no English. 

In each case, the result is students and families with unmet basic needs, and a threatened ability to survive and thrive.

The Friends of the FRC initially set out to provide the Family Resource Centers (FRCs) with a consistent, year-round supply of personal care items, for distribution to students and families. Specifically, personal care items that cannot be purchased with food stamps, and are generally not available at the food bank. Items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, diapers and baby wipes, dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and bar soap.

We have since expanded our assistance to include things such as kitchen and household items, baby items, clothing, beds and bedding, emergency food items, transportation assistance, utility and rent assistance, emergency housing, laundry assistance, and healthcare assistance. Focusing our support where gaps in basic-need resources and services exist. 

We continue to adapt and fulfill additional unmet needs that the FRC staff bring forward. 

Other important pieces of our work include: 

• Community Education - making people aware of the FRCs, and the challenges that students and families in Bellingham schools face; and

• Building Community Connections - creating and fostering connections among the FRCs, organizations, businesses, and individuals in order to improve basic needs access and strengthen our entire community.  

We envision a community where all students and their families are able to meet their basic needs. Thereby creating the conditions for each person to not only survive, but thrive.