We are disappointed to update you all on the cancellation of our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Community Work Party on Saturday, January 13th. To ensure the safety of our volunteers and work party staff, we have made the difficult decision to cancel. Our concern is specifically related to the extremely low temperatures forecasted for Friday and Saturday, which pose a risk for hypothermia and frostbite.
Our staff typically spends the majority of the day before the work party doing outdoor preparatory work, which the current weather forecast will not support. Temperatures Friday morning into the afternoon will range from 11°-16° Fahrenheit with a windchill around -8° - 0° Fahrenheit, and the temperatures on Saturday morning into the afternoon are forecasted to range from 13°-22° F with a windchill between 5° and 15° F. Given this, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone involved to cancel the event.
For additional context on this guidance, please see this Alert for Western Whatcom County (Washington) Issued by the National Weather Service.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. The safety and well-being of our community members are of utmost importance.
We also want to thank the many community partners who were involved in this event, including the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), Let’s Bike Bellingham, Tony’s Coffee, Zeeks Pizza, Pizza Time, and PeaceHealth.
We highly encourage you to participate in one of the other amazing MLK day events in Bellingham. The City and several other organizations are hosting a free community celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 15th at Sehome High School. Everyone is invited to this day of service, gratitude, and community. Starting with a free breakfast at 10 a.m., the event features an intergenerational discussion of “Hope in Action” by local community leaders Isabella McFrazier and Brian Young. From noon to 2 p.m., participate in one of many community service projects. Find more details on the WWU event page. In the spirit of serving others, you can make donations to Lydia Place, a local organization helping homeless families in Whatcom County since 1989.
You can also sign up to one of our future work parties! Our full schedule is listed on VolunteerBellingham.org. We thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you at a future Saturday Community Work Party!
Original Text Below:
Celebrate the collective power of community by joining the City of Bellingham and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) as well as many other community partners for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Community Work Party on Saturday, January 13th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Squalicum Creek.
Together, we will plant native trees and shrubs to restore fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality near the Squalicum Creek Re-route project. This important ecological restoration project was constructed in 2020 to benefit salmon and other native species.
Through this work, we hope to exemplify the environmental justice movement, which was inspired by Dr. King through his concern for the urban environment. Environmental justice embodies the principle that all people have the right to clean air, water, and soil, as well as the right to live in safe and healthy communities.
You need: Weather-appropriate clothing, long pants, closed-toe shoes, snacks, and a full water bottle.
We provide: Tools, gloves, instruction, and light refreshments, including free Tony’s coffee and pizza from Pizza Time and Zeeks, all of which were generously donated for this event.
Volunteers should be aware that the work party site includes typical park uneven terrain. Volunteers assume all liability for conducting volunteer work within the project area.
Additional information will be emailed to registered participants. Register early, space is limited. If you sign up, please show up! All ages, abilities, and experience levels are welcome.
This event is Parkscriptions Certified!
Donations for Lydia Place:
We are partnering with Lydia Place to accept donations for their organization at our event. Lydia Place is a local non-profit working to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations. Their highest needs currently are regular-sized bottles of dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and baby wipes.
Important Registration Steps:
- After you have completed the required waiver (adult or youth), please be sure to then click "Sign Up" to complete your registration for the event! Completing the waiver does not automatically sign you up.
- If you are bringing any additional volunteers or family members, please sign up as a team or have them join the site, sign the waiver, and then sign up individually. Here are some guides:
- Responding to a Need as a Team : Galaxy Digital
- Guide to Connect Waivers: For Parents and Guardians of Minors : Galaxy Digital
- If you are bringing any youth under age 18 and have issues with the waiver or don’t want to create a separate account for them, you can also sign a paper youth waiver at check-in on the day of the work party. Just be sure to reserve spots on your team for them.
- Thank you for your patience as we continue to iron out the details with our volunteer registration system!
Here are some quick reminders about our youth liability release form:
- Unaccompanied youth under age 18 must provide a City & NSEA Youth Liability Release Form signed and completed by their legal guardian.
- This liability release form can be completed online when registering or you can bring a signed paper copy to the event.
- Participants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Directions:
This event takes place at the Squalicum Creek Re-route site near where Squalicum Parkway and Birchwood Avenue meet, just north of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
- Where to meet: Please meet at the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot located off of Birchwood Avenue. Parking, a free bike valet, and the sign-in tent will be located here. Event staff will then lead groups of volunteers to the work site. Thank you to PeaceHealth for providing access to this parking lot for our event!
- Travel by bus: Several Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes serve the area. The closest stop is located along Birchwood Ave at Squalicum Pkwy. Find your route using the online trip planner at ridewta.com.
- Travel by bike or foot: The work party site is accessible by bike or foot. Find your bike route by visiting cob.org/bike and your walking route by viewing the outreach map below. A free bike valet located near the sign-in tents in the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot will be provided by Let’s Bike Bellingham!
- Travel by car: Parking is available in the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot. Carpooling is encouraged!
All registered participants will receive more information via email about accessing the event site the evening before the work party.
Map:
Questions? Want to learn more or request accessibility or language accommodations? Contact pkvolunteers@cob.org or 360-778-7105.
