Message from the Ferndale School District Student Services Department:

Every year the Ferndale School District Student Services Department works to provide a variety of services, programs, and resources to meet the needs of students. This past year, as we have faced new challenges resulting from the pandemic, our services and support have been more important than ever -- and we are more grateful than ever for our community partners, whose donations of time, products, and dollars have made such an incredible impact.

“Our community supports our students in so many ways. It is one of the things I love best about Ferndale,” said Kim Bunch, District McKinney-Vento Liaison. “So many organizations, groups, and individuals partner with us in the important work of lifting up our community’s children, especially in times of greatest need.” 

To recognize and appreciate the ongoing support of our community, we want to highlight several donations district students have received this school year:

Being a good student starts with having the right supplies, even when classes are mostly remote. Those who helped outfit our students with the necessary supplies for the 2020-2021 school year included the United Church of Ferndale (backpacks), Petrogas (backpacks and water bottles), Open Hands (water bottles), Sharon Weitz (school supplies), Niki Mantas and Whatcom County Fire District #7 (gift cards to Fred Meyer and Target), Metrie Inc. (a generous cash donation to the Family Fund, which can be used for unique student needs that come up throughout the year) and various other individuals (face masks).

Dressing the part also contributes to our students’ success. This year, the Assistance League of Bellingham’s Operation School Bell and Teen Team programs have provided clothing for 180 of our Ferndale scholars.

Learning doesn’t happen when you’re hungry. Our students have continued to benefit from regular food donations from Nature’s Path, the Ferndale Food Bank, Open Hands, Miracle Food Network and Wild Bird Charity. In addition, 57 families received special Thanksgiving meals provided by Windermere (both the Birch Bay and the Ferndale offices), Petrogas, and two individual families.

Learning doesn’t happen when you’re cold either. Donated quilts from Betty Ross are warming up a number of our students during these cold winter months.

As we approach the winter holidays, we are thankful for all of our partners who are helping to make Christmas a little merrier for over 550 of our students. Those partners include: Project Santa, Toys for Tots, Port of Bellingham, the BP ReachOut Program, Candy Ford of Outlaws Restaurant, Manthey Momentum, the Community Toy Store, and the Holiday Giving Store. 

Again, we want to thank everyone who has supported our Ferndale School District in so many ways this year. They say it takes a village. Thank you for being part of ours.

For more information about how you can partner with the school district to support students with unique needs, please contact Kim Bunch at kim.bunch@ferndalesd.org.