Bringing people together in a fun, collaborative environment, and with essential health services offered for free, the Catherine Mahaffey East Whatcom Wellness Fair is a crucial resource for the region it serves. Held every year at the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC) in Kendall, the fair is one of many ways that we at Opportunity Council put our values into action –access to health care should be a right for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live. The Wellness Fair is named in honor of the late Catherine Mahaffey, a local philanthropist who deeply cared for the well-being of her community.
The Nooksack storytellers from Healing through Hope talk to the crowd.
Program team members Kathy and Amanda, with Executive Director Greg Winter, spread the word about the Economic Security for All program.
Musical duo PARADOX jam out, bringing live music to the fair.
Why a Wellness Fair Happens
East Whatcom is beautiful and quiet – surrounded by trees and mountains and home to a caring, tight-knit community. But many East Whatcom residents face unique challenges: while scenic views are plentiful, healthcare resources can be far away, often requiring an hour or more of travel. This adds extra steps to meeting their health needs, highlighting the importance of local events like the Wellness Fair.
These extra steps can mean gaps in East Whatcom residents’ health care. For example, according to our attendee survey, only 49.1% of 2024 health fair attendees had a dental visit within the last year, while 35.6% had been waiting for medical or dental care for a year or more. Wait times like these are one reason the Wellness Fair exists: to provide essential health services that residents may otherwise put off until problems become even more expensive and difficult to treat.
Other sobering facts for East Whatcom Residents seeking services at the health fair:
- 4% don’t have health insurance
- 6% have insurance but are still unable to afford the costs of healthcare
- 3% don’t have insurance that covers the services they need
- 2% are unable to find a provider that accepts their insurance
Team members from the Whatcom County Health Department table at the event, offering resources and swag.
Volunteers hang out in front of the popular bouncy house.
What It Means to Locals
2024’s health fair attendees benefitted from a variety of free services, including routine check-ups, dental care, vision screenings, and more, all offered by the health fair’s partner providers. Services received at the 2024 health fair included routine checkups, hearing tests, memory checks, foot care as well as dental and vision care. A whopping 70 East Whatcom residents got a free vision exam, and 38 folks also received brand-new eyeglasses. Attendees could also take a load off their feet and get a massage, courtesy of the Whatcom Community College Massage Clinic, to relieve tension and take a 15-minute break from walking around the fair.
People at the fair came from a variety of backgrounds and needs, showing why it was important to have a wide breadth of services available. Only 22.4% of 2024’s attendees were employed with one full-time job, and 17.2% of folks were unemployed. 20.7% were disabled. The most common ethnicities or races were white (57.4%), Hispanic/Latinx (14.8%), and American Indian/Alaska Native (9.8%). Because people came from various demographics, it was important not to expect one-size-fits-all health care to work for everyone attending.
Addressing the emotional and spiritual health of its attendees, the fair also fostered a sense of connection and support. People enjoyed getting together with their neighbors and chatting with fair staff, volunteers, and new and old friends. Free burrito bowls from the Common Threads Food Truck added to the warmth of the day, and its joyful vibe that celebrated community spirit.
A llama and its friend attend the fair.
The Whatcom County Health Department offer resources and freebies.
An excited visitor waits for her food at the Common Threads food truck.
How They Got There
Transportation to and from the fair was made easy, addressing one of the main challenges to healthcare access for many East Whatcom residents – a lack of reliable transportation. In 2024, almost 20% of attendees carpooled, while others drove, took a bus or shuttle, walked, or biked. Using East Whatcom Early Learning’s fully electric school bus, shuttles ran every 15 minutes from Kendall Elementary School to the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, and door-to-door transportation was offered, thanks to the Whatcom Transportation Authority, ensuring that no one missed the fair due to a lack of a ride.
Folks from Western Washington University Communication Sciences & Disorders table at the fair, with help from a cute pup.
Guests weighed in on what impacted them most at the fair by writing what they're "leafing with" on paper leaves that became part of an abundant forest.
What Attendees Were “Leafing With”
As they left the fair, attendees shared what they value most by participating in our “What Are You Leafing With” activity. By simply writing down what they care about, attendees showed the many things they had in common. Participants created a visual of the community and provided feedback that fair organizers will use to ensure the event is shaped by and for the East Whatcom Community.
Overwhelmingly, people wrote about the people they connected with at the fair. They mentioned the warm sense of community, the joy and welcoming feelings in the atmosphere, and the kindness of volunteers, people at the booths, and others who they met. It was great to see that people felt so much positivity radiating into their interaction.
After the people, attendees loved the offered resources the most, writing that the booths and information at the fair were great and helpful. People also made plenty of time for what is sometimes the most restorative thing of all: fun. Attendees shared how much they loved the bouncy house, massages, and visiting llamas. Many also shared how much they loved the food, reminding us once again of the power of a shared meal.
Unsurprisingly, vision care was also a fair favorite, with 38 people leaving with glasses. People loved seeing all the kiddos zooming around the bike skills course provided by Smart Trips for kids. Supporting their newfound passion for cycling was a donation of free bike helmets from the Jeanne & William Carroll Youth & Families Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation. People also loved the traditional Nooksack storytelling from Healing through Hope, live tunes by PARADOX, connecting with other services from Opportunity Council, the library mobile bus, and the smoothie-making bikes. The fair brought together so many services and activities that there was something for everyone.
Jessica from the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center chats with volunteer Lesley.
A schedule for the day, in front of a sign-in table, shows a full roster of events.
The Value of Bringing Health Directly to the Community
The Catherine Mahaffey East Whatcom Wellness Fair continues to celebrate health and hope for the residents of East Whatcom County. The fair addresses the unique challenges East Whatcom residents face by providing free access to essential health services and fostering a strong sense of community.
Feedback from attendees this year has been overwhelmingly positive, showcasing the fair’s impact on both individual health and community spirit. From the valuable resources and services provided to the joy of connecting with neighbors and enjoying fun activities, the fair celebrates the resilience and warmth of East Whatcom. As we analyze feedback and post-event surveys, it’s clear that while progress has been made, there’s still work to be done to make sure everyone in our community has reliable access to care.
We’re grateful to our partners and everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported the fair, and we look forward to building on the fair’s successes in the years to come. Together, we can continue to strengthen our community and ensure that all residents of East Whatcom County have the resources they need to thrive.
For 2024, we were thrilled to partner with Arcora Foundation, AHEC of Western Washington, Alzheimer’s Association, Bellingham Technical College, Bloodworks Northwest, Chuckanut Health Foundation/Health Equity Zone, Common Threads Farm, Devyn Nixon, WA State DSHS, Evergreen Goodwill, Foothills Food Bank, Dr. Gabriel Durben, Guided Solutions, Healing Through Hope, Health Ministries Network, Ideal Option, Kendall Senior Center, Law Advocates of Whatcom County, Lydia Place, MAD HOPE, Molina Healthcare of Washington, Mt. Baker Community Coalition, Mt. Baker Foundation, Mt. Baker School District Family Services, Medical Teams International Dental Van, PARADOX, Natural Way Chiropractic, NAMI Whatcom, Northwest Clean Air Agency, Northwest Regional Council, North Sound ACH, PeaceHealth, Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, Puget Sound Energy, Roots of Empathy, Signature Healthcare at Home, Smart Trips, Twin Sisters Farmers Market, United HealthCare, VSP Vision Care, Whatcom County Response Systems, Whatcom Family & Community Network, Whatcom County Health & Community Services, Whatcom County Library System, Whatcom Family YMCA, Whatcom Transportation Authority, WWU Center for Community Learning, WWU Hearing Clinic, and Whatcom Community College.
None of this would be possible without them and our funders: Arcora Foundation, Molina Healthcare of Washington, Northwest Regional Council, PeaceHealth, Mount Baker Foundation, and United HealthCare.
Help make sure everyone in the East Whatcom community has what they need by donating today.
