You can help feed the homeless while dining out in Whatcom County. Here’s how

Rachel Showalter
·2 min read

Dine Out, one of Whatcom County’s longest-running community fundraising events, will celebrate its 23rd year this May after its creation in 2001.

Starting May 1 for the entire month, local participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to Maple Alley Inn. The Opportunity Council program is volunteer-run and has served healthy meals since 1987 to those fighting hunger locally, including people experiencing homelessness, veterans, families and seniors.

The impact

During the pandemic, Maple Alley Inn volunteers prepared and served about 8,000 meals each year. But those numbers are down compared to prior to the pandemic when the group served about 27,000 meals in 2019.

Since 2001, the group has prepared and served about 310,000 meals.

“I’ve seen firsthand what these meals mean to people,” said Maple Alley Inn coordinator Anne Poulson in a release about the fundraiser. “Not only are we providing healthy homemade meals, but people who come to our meals have a sense of being part of our community.”

Melissa Darwin, left, Gregory Hegyrozi and Serenity Greco eat lunch at the Maple Alley Inn at Faith Lutheran Church, sponsored by the Opportunity Council. Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn, now in its 17th year, takes place on Tuesday, when restaurants donate a portion their proceeds to the community service.
Melissa Darwin, left, Gregory Hegyrozi and Serenity Greco eat lunch at the Maple Alley Inn at Faith Lutheran Church, sponsored by the Opportunity Council. Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn, now in its 17th year, takes place on Tuesday, when restaurants donate a portion their proceeds to the community service.

About 1.7 tons of produce for the meals is grown in a community garden every year. Every week, 35 volunteers work in the kitchen and 25 work in the garden.

Last year’s Dine Out fundraiser brought in $14,000 for Maple Alley Inn. In previous years, the fundraiser has earned between $30,000 and $50,000.

How you can help

Anyone can participate in Dine Out by eating at any of the lparticipating restaurants during May.

Each business is choosing a different way to participate. Some are donating a portion of the month’s sales. Others are donating a portion of sales from specific items or from purchases made on specific days of the week.

Participating restaurants include:

▪ Pure Bliss Desserts

▪ The Filling Station

▪ Diamond Jim’s Grill

▪ Boundary Bay Brewery

▪ Sirena Gelato

▪ Avenue Bread on James St. in Bellingham

▪ Keenan’s at the Pier

▪ Sol de Mexico Mexican Restaurant

▪ Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant

▪ Brandywine Kitchen

▪ The Daisy Cafe

▪ On Rice Thai Cuisine on N. Samish Way in Bellingham

▪ Pepper Sisters

▪ Refresh Juice Co.

▪ Old Town Cafe

▪ Mallard Ice Cream

▪ Bantam

▪ Storia Cucina

▪ Bar Cicotti

▪ Nelson’s Market