Opportunity Council is an organization supporting Whatcom, San Juan, and Island Counties with childcare, early education, employment, financial, and basic needs services. Maple Alley Inn, their hunger-fighting healthy meal program, has been operating since 1987.
Maple Alley Inn serves breakfast on Tuesdays and lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellingham. That’s also where their community garden is located, which has grown around 1-2 tons of produce since its inception.
Photograph courtesy of Opportunity Council
Maple Alley Inn is usually sustained by donations and a volunteer team of more than 60 members strong, but there’s another way to chip in this month, and it’s as easy as going out to eat.
“Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn [is] an annual tradition where Whatcom County comes together to fight hunger while enjoying delicious food and drink,” says Emily Trujillo Martens, Opportunity Council’s previous communications coordinator. “By dining out or donating, you help provide hot, nutritious meals to neighbors in need. … All you need to do is visit a participating restaurant during Dine Out week and add a $5 donation to your bill to buy lunch for someone in need. Some restaurants also donate a portion of sales—just order and enjoy!”
Photograph by Negley Stockman
This year, Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn is May 13–20. Learn more about the program, find participating restaurants, and learn how to contribute at their Instagram @dineout4maplealley and website, oppco.org/maplealleyinn. oppco.org
