Give Now to the Back2Basics Campaign

Because every child deserves a great start

Futures shine bright when basic needs are met.

Our community’s future will be defined by our ability to foster the health and well-being of our next generations. Our future prosperity depends on the investments we make now, and begins by ensuring every family has what they need to provide their children with the safe, healthy environment they need to grow up healthy and give back to their community. By making sure every family’s basic needs for food, housing, safety, and health are met, you can set children up for success in school and protect them from the toxic stress caused by poverty.

Do your part in building the future: support children and families.

Raising kids is an enormous responsibility, and one we all play a role in through collectively caring for our community. By making sure families have access to the basic essentials, you can help every family secure the best possible outcome for their children and do your part in providing for kids.

Make a difference and:

  • Make a financial donation: Monetary gifts allow us to meet the unique needs of individual families. Whether for for school activity fees, ASB cards, emergency childcare, or other basic needs, financial contributions make it possible for family’s to get the help they need most, right when they need it. Donate here.
  • Organize a supply drive at a business or organization: Items to collect include specific items like diapers and wipes for families with infants and young children; move-in supplies to welcome folks into their new homes; or backpacks and school supplies. Learn more here.
  • Help Stuff the Bus: Drop off donations at one of our “Stuff the Bus” events happening August 7th in Bellingham at the Lakeway Fred Meyer, 6 am-7 pm or August 17th and 18th at the Oak Harbor Walmart, 10 am-2 pm. Learn how to sponsor these events here.
  • Donate items to a local drive host before August 7th: Can’t make one of the “Stuff the Bus” events but still want to donate basic needs items? Stop by one of these locations before August 7th to donate.

Help Meet Basic Needs

Basics for Babies helps keeps babies healthy, dry, and fed by collecting and distributing diapers, wipes, and formula.

For Basics for Babies, we welcome donations of:

  • Unopened packages of diapers all sizes (Size 4 being the biggest need)
  • Unopened packages of baby wipes
  • Unopened containers of infant formula
Thanks to community support, more and more districts are able to supply many of the most needed supplies students need each year. Opportunity Council partners with other organizations like Blue Skies for Children, the Ferndale Resource Center, and others to fill in the gaps and make sure every child has their own backpack.

Accepted School Supply Donations:

  • Backpacks! Far and away the biggest need is backpacks. While many districts are able to supply the basics like pens and paper, new backpacks for students are needed for students in communities throughout Northwest Washington.
  • Earbuds & Over-Ear Headphones
  • Pocket Folders
  • 1″ & 3″ 3-Ring Binders
  • Composition Books
  • Notebooks (College-Rule)
  • Highlighters
  • Pencil Pouches/Boxes
  • Erasers (both to top pencils and large pink erasers)
  • Red, Blue, and Black Pens
  • Financial Donations to meet specific unmet needs for families like ASB cards and other fees

School supplies are important, but to make sure children are ready to learn each day, families need more than pens & pencils. Donations of household goods and hygiene items help make sure students can focus on learning and not their other unmet needs.

Accepted Basics for Families Donations:

  • Laundry Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Adult Shampoo & Conditioner
  • Kids 3-1 Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste (both kid-friendly & Adult Flavors
  • Toothbrushes (Kid & Adult Sizes)
  • Covid-19 Tests
  • Lice Treatment Kits
  • Socks
  • Period Supplies (Tampons & Pads

Whether moving in after leaving an unsafe home or moving into a new home after being homeless, many of the individuals and families helped by Opportunity Council Housing Programs move into their new homes without the basic items people need to cook, clean, and make their space their own.

Accepted Move-In Basics:

  • Coffee Makers
  • Kitchen & Bath Towels
  • Pots & Pans Sets
  • Toilet Paper
  • Paper Towels

Sponsors

Give Families the Help they Need by Donating to the 2024 Back to Basics Campaign

Participating Drive Locations

Donate basic needs items to a local drive host before August 7th.

Whatcom County drive locations:

  • Opportunity Council Office – 1419 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
  • Kulshan Community Land Trust Office – 1715 C St Ste 201 (upstairs) Bellingham, WA 98225
  • Whatcom Family YMCA – 1256 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
  • Madrona Gifts/Pumped Bellingham – The Workstudios, 112 Ohio St #117, Bellingham, WA 98225
  • Elements Hot Yoga – 1308 Meador Ave # C3, Bellingham, WA 98229
  • East Whatcom Regional Resource Center – 8251 Kendall Rd, Maple Falls, WA 98266

Island County drive locations:

  • Opportunity Council Office – 231 SE Barrington, Suite 100 in, 1791 NE 1st Ave #2, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County – 913 E Whidbey Ave, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
  • Grace by the Sea Church – 540 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Community Partners