One of the ways Assistance League of Bellingham extends our impact in the Whatcom County community is by partnering with other philanthropic organizations. One such partnership is between our Eating Healthy program and Common Threads Farm.

Common Threads Farm was founded by Laura Plaut in 2007 on Lummi Island as a summer farm camp to create a connection in children with where their food comes from. The program eventually moved off the island and into 24 school gardens in Whatcom County which Common Threads Farm helped to establish and manage on an ongoing basis. They also offer spring and fall garden classes and winter cooking classes in twelve schools, with the help of seven AmeriCorps volunteers, as well as a mobile food truck. Most of the AmeriCorps volunteers come from Washington state, many from Western Washington University, but each year a few people join from out of state! They serve in these stipended volunteer positions for ten months.

AmeriCorps volunteers hosting a food and plant trivia fundraiser

Last year Assistance League of Bellingham helped with both the funds and volunteer labor to build seven new gardens as well as new signs and garden supplies. This year we are providing scholarships for the summer garden and cooking camp programs. Sarah Wheatley, Garden and Volunteer Programs Manager for Common Threads Farm, says “It means a lot to have the support from the Assistance League community. The money is going to go to scholarships for our summer programs so that kids can enjoy our programs regardless of their family’s income and helps us to pay our staff, which is both the most important part of our work and the hardest to fund.”

Where AmeriCorps Food Educators are volunteering elsewhere in the community

If you are interested in volunteering with Common Threads Farm, they are always grateful for volunteer support! You can learn more about them on their website at https://commonthreadsfarm.org/.