UPLIFT Program 

UPLIFT will build on the 40 years of the Coalition’s work to reach more of the rural communities in Whatcom County. UPLIFT will provide “pop-up” basic services and multiple provider services (similar to a mini-Project Homeless Connect and Bellingham School Direct resource fair) at one site around the county (especially rural areas) in partnership with faith communities, food banks and social service agencies.  

UpLift programing will enable families to build on their own strengths and capacities to promote healthy development. While these programs come in different forms, they have a common goal of increasing the level of family functioning. UpLift will invest in communities and contribute to the community building process.   

A fundamental characteristic of the UpLift programs is that staff, congregations, volunteers and families work together in relationships based on equality and respect. UpLift will make every effort to affirm and strengthen families' cultural and racial identities and their ability to function in a multicultural society. UpLift will work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development, and advocate with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive and accountable to the families served.  

UpLift works to foster a diverse and engaged community by helping meet the basic needs of people struggling to make ends meet or facing crisis situations.  

The UpLift program has several components to it including the Plateful of Love volunteer-driven feeding program as well as the volunteer-driven Community Cupboard supplemental food bank project (see below for more info). These programs will help decrease the enormous food insecurity in Whatcom County especially for the BIPOC community.  

The UpLift program reflects our Interfaith Coalition mission “We provide opportunities for people to serve the needs of their neighbors by filling gaps in human services”. 

Plateful of Love  

The UPLIFT Plateful of Love food program is a volunteer-led effort to provide meals to community members at our quarterly UpLift pop-up programs provided around the County.  Interfaith Coalition and a congregation provide meals at no cost to our community, sustained by committed and compassionate volunteers and the generous contributions of donors. Everyone is welcome to come. Our dining room is open to the public regardless of race, religion, or creed. All meals are free. Volunteers provide either pre-prepared, hot or cold meal or volunteers cook meals onsite for the community who are attending the UpLift event. For more information on how to volunteer, please see our Volunteer section. 

Community Cupboard 

The Uplift Community Cupboard food program is a volunteer-led effort to provide additional food to community members in our quarterly UpLift pop-up programs provided around the County. Interfaith Coalition works alongside local food banks, food desert fighters, congregations, and other organizations to bring more food to the community. Volunteers bring a variety of food to the pop-up site to distribute to all community members attending the event.  For more information on how to volunteer, please see our Volunteer section.