Barron KARES

Blaine Food Bank is a local food bank dedicated to ending hunger in our community through its mission of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors." With compassion and cultural sensitivity, the organization provides nutritious food to individuals and families in need—turning hunger into hope for those facing food insecurity.

Guided by core beliefs in equity and dignity, Blaine Food Bank ensures that all community members have access to food that meets both their nutritional and cultural needs. The organization operates on foundational values: Justice and Equity – promoting fair and equal access to resources for all. Inclusion and Access – creating a welcoming environment that removes barriers to service. Community and Solidarity – emphasizing the strength of collective support and shared purpose. Respect and Dignity – honoring every individual’s experience with empathy and kindness.

Through these principles, Blaine Food Bank works to build a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone is valued, and no one faces hunger alone.

Thank you, Blaine Food Bank, for feeding our community both with food and hope when they need it most. With your help as a Barron Customer, we’re honored to support this wonderful organization!

June 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $8,140 to Whatcom Council on Aging!

Whatcom Council on Aging is a community-based organization dedicated to promoting lifelong independence and well-being for older adults. Through partnerships and programs, it provides nutritional, health, social, recreational, and educational services. The organization strives to empower seniors by supporting access to affordable housing, healthcare, and nutritious food, fostering community connections, encouraging civic engagement, and advocating for the rights and dignity of older adults. Guided by values of accessibility, respect, and community involvement, it works to ensure seniors can live healthy, autonomous, and connected lives.

Thank you Whatcom Council on Aging, for your dedication to empowering older adults and enriching their lives through compassionate support, essential services, and community connection. With your help as a Barron Customer, we’re honored to support this wonderful organization!

May 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $11,330 to Melodic Caring Project!

Melodic Caring Project—a unique organization that brings hope, connection, and the power of music to people battling illness.

The Melodic Caring Project provides ongoing mental, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and others. They accomplish this by connecting patients with musicians, Broadway performers, celebrities, and a team of Rockologists that offer a range of programs, including music therapy, personalized live-stream performances, weekly support group sessions, and specialty programs. Since 2010, they have used the power of music and connection to provide ongoing support to over 51,000 patients and others battling illness and isolation around the world. Programs are free to all patients and families through the generosity of individual donors, foundations, corporate giving, and sponsorships.

Thank you, Melodic Caring Project, for providing love, encouragement, and healing through music to people in need and inspiring communities worldwide to do the same. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re honored to support this wonderful organization. 

April 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $11,110 to Brigid Collins Family Support Center!

Brigid Collins Family Support Center—a local organization with a mission to strengthen community health and resilience by providing comprehensive support to children and their families.

Brigid Collins serves more than 2,500 families each year in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Once solely focused on responding to child sexual abuse, the organization now provides a variety of services for children experiencing abuse and neglect of all kinds. Their Children’s Advocacy Centers are designed to support and protect children of abuse through a coordinated approach, bringing together professionals such as law enforcement, child protective services, medical personnel, and mental health professionals—all in one location. Brigid Collins also provides parenting classes and support, trauma therapy, case management services, and educational training to help recognize the signs, respond responsibly, and prevent abuse in children. 

Thank you, Brigid Collins Family Support Center, for your support of children and their families in their most vulnerable state, and for your vision of a thriving community where no child suffers. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this organization and their mission!

March 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,560 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County—a local branch of a nationwide organization that enables all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Boys & Girls Clubs are safe, positive, fun places for youth to go after school or during summer hours. Through regular attendance, kids and teens create lasting friendships with their peers and can look to staff as trusted mentors for support. Programs are choice based and focus on our three priority outcomes: Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character & Citizenship.

Since 2014, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County has seen its budget grow more than sevenfold and currently serves over 1,700 members. Offering Targeted Programs that focus on meeting the needs identified within our communities and schools, the Club focuses on five key elements: a safe and positive environment, fun, supportive relationships, opportunity, and recognition.

Thank you, Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County, for your commitment to local kids and for providing them with the support they need to thrive. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this awesome organization!

February 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,890 to Lydia Place!

Lydia Place is an organization that disrupts the cycle of homelessness for current and future generations.

Lydia Place believes that housing interventions today with prevention strategies for tomorrow is an investment in ending family homelessness in our community. But housing is only one facet of long-term healing for families that have faced years of homelessness and complex traumas. With that in mind, all families that are in housing programs at Lydia Place also have access to parenting support and clinical mental health care.

With the help of generous community donations, staff, and volunteer work, Lydia Place serves 300 families annually. And with a detailed strategic plan underway, they aim to increase capacity, services, and access in the near future. 

Thank you, Lydia Place, for your tireless commitment to supporting local families with the support they need to heal and  thrive. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this wonderful organization!

January 2025—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,450 to Brigadoon Service Dogs!

Brigadoon Service Dogs is an organization that provides trained service dogs for veterans, children, and adults with physical, developmental, and behavioral health disabilities to promote a more independent and enriched life.

The demand for a well-trained service dog far exceeds the industry’s ability to provide them, and Brigadoon addresses this great need in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2004 and fully accredited in 2012 by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), Brigadoon operates in accordance with ADI’s highest standards of excellence. Through an intentional and compassionate approach to animal-assisted interventions (AAI), they focus on harnessing each match’s therapeutic potential and healing qualities. With positive reinforcement and force-free training methods, Brigadoon maximizes the success and welfare of the dogs in their care.

Thank you, Brigadoon Service Dogs, for your passion for service dogs and the assistance they provide. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this wonderful organization!

December 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $8,580 to Lighthouse Mission Ministries!

Lighthouse Mission Ministries is an organization that aims to be a consistent friend to people in homelessness.

Lighthouse Mission Ministries comes alongside people, wherever they are at, to offer hope, give dignity, serve, and support them as they undertake the difficult work of leaving homelessness behind. Their programs include the Base Camp 24/7 shelter, the Ascent Program for men’s recovery, the Agape Home for women, the Good Neighbor Project for local businesses, and Outreach, all with the intention of sharing faith and serving those in need. 

With the help of generous community donations and volunteer work, Lighthouse Mission Ministries has provided 650+ meals per day, sheltered 253 individuals each night, and placed 150+ people in stable housing—all in the past year.

Thank you, Lighthouse Mission Ministries, for your commitment to healing homelessness and offering a hand to our most vulnerable on their road to recovery. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this essential organization!

November 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $8,800 to Growing Veterans!

Growing Veterans uses their farm to provide opportunities for veterans to engage in peer-support and engage with the broader community. With a mission is to end isolation through creating purpose & belonging, Growing Veterans strives to accomplish this by growing food, community, and each other.

Founded by Christopher Brown, a combat-wounded USMC veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a former mental health counselor turned farmer, Christina Wolf, Growing Veterans is more than an organic, bustling farm (now expanded to two locations!). It brings together veterans and civilians, and by sowing seeds in the field together, helps to end the isolation that leads to suicide. The farm is used as a catalyst for human connection and veteran reintegration, making a powerful impact on the health and well-being of vets returning home, and the world. 

Growing Veterans is a place to find purpose & camaraderie again. As a professional stepping stone, vets can build their resume and skill sets and get involved through employment, volunteering, internships, and more. 

Thank you, Growing Veterans, for your hard work and support for our community. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this essential organization!

October 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $8,030 to DVSAS(Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services)!

DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services) believes no matter their circumstances, every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard.

DVSAS is committed to supporting individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation, and to leading the community towards ending these abuses of power. Serving individuals throughout Whatcom County, DVSAS is a volunteer-driven non-profit working to heal victims and end domestic abuse. With client-centered, accessible housing and support services, DVSAS empowers victims and survivors while offering safe housing and the possibility of a new life. They provide a full spectrum of support and services that victims need after trauma, while also offering prevention education to break the cycle of violence.

Thank you, DVSAS, for helping to build a world where every survivor has the support they deserve and a future free of domestic violence and sexual assault. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to support this essential organization!

September 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $6,160 to Whatcom County Search & Rescue!

Whatcom County Search & Rescue is committed to maintaining a constant state of readiness for search, rescue, recovery, and incident response while promoting safety and outdoor education.

Six units, comprised of over 200 volunteers, operate under the Whatcom County Search and Rescue Council. These units specialize in traditional foot search, mobile emergency transport, snowmobile, dive, technical rope, and swiftwater rescue. Common duties include traditional wilderness and urban search, wilderness body recovery, wilderness first aid and pack-out of injured hikers and hunters, urban searches for lost children or dementia patients, evidence search, and scene safety. SAR has also played a key role in recent events such as flood rescue, delivery of PPE and food during the pandemic, severe weather transportation for critical hospital staff and patients, and condition monitoring and situation reports during extreme weather. SAR also provides safety patrols during community events, as well as wilderness safety education to schools and other organizations.

Thank you, Whatcom County Search & Rescue, for your tireless work and compassion for our community. With your help as a Barron customer, we’re thrilled to be able to support this organization and their mission!

August 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $5,610 to Whatcom Humane Society!

The Whatcom Humane Society believes that all animals have value beyond economic measure and are entitled to legal, moral, and ethical consideration and protection.

Operated since 1902, The Whatcom Humane Society is the oldest non-profit animal welfare organization in Whatcom County. They provide for abandoned, injured, abused, or neglected animals and educate the community to promote humane animal treatment and respect. WHS also provides 24-hour animal control and rescue services for the majority of Whatcom County.

As an open-admission animal shelter, WHS turns no animal away, regardless of its age, breed, temperament, or condition. Their dedicated staff and volunteers care for approximately 4,500 animals annually through three shelter facilities—a domestic animal shelter, a wildlife rehabilitation center, and a farm facility.

Thank you, Whatcom Humane Society, for the kindness, respect, and compassion you show all animals, and your dedication as a core service in our community.

July 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $9,570 to The D.I.S.H. Foundation!

The D.I.S.H. Foundation’s mission is to employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They strive to provide employees with stable and fulfilling jobs that teach workplace skills while providing dignity, independence, a sense of purpose, and hope (D.I.S.H.).

Once an individual with IDD ages out of school, there are not many opportunities to find work or live independently. Many of these individuals are completely capable and skilled, they simply need a different structure. D.I.S.H. offers a variety of services to help individuals gain independence and learn necessary job skills to experience success in the workforce and within the community. Services range from respite, basic cooking classes, vocational training education and on the job training, to navigating community programs and specialized habitation. Since 2022, D.I.S.H. has operated a space within the Container Village at the port (a.k.a. The Portal), partnering with Our Kitchen to open a cafe which provides employment opportunities for individuals with IDD.

D.I.S.H. programs and wages for individuals with IDD are supported mostly by community donations. By providing these individuals with a job, it not only provides them independence but gives them a sense of purpose, dignity, and belonging. They are no longer defined by their challenges and limitations but are recognized for their abilities and efforts—something we all strive for!

June 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $6,490 to Whatcom Land Trust!

Whatcom Land Trust’s mission is to preserve and protect wildlife habitat, as well as scenic, agricultural, and open space lands in Whatcom County for future generations.

Whatcom County has an abundant tapestry of lakes, rivers, farms, and forests—all of which are vital to our way of life and sense of place. Whatcom Land Trust is committed to both protecting these special places and ensuring that their abundant diversity of life flourishes. Together with many community partners, the organization continues to build relationships to protect these rich and vibrant lands for a healthy, thriving Whatcom County for generations to come.

Whatcom Land Trust is committed to protecting clean, cold rivers and healthy forestland for future generations of all species. Over the last 40 years, the Land Trust has protected forests, farmland, wildlife habitat, shorelines, and created 15 parks and preserves in Whatcom County. Ongoing stewardship and restoration work improves ecosystem biodiversity and restores natural systems to support the recovery of key fish and wildlife species. The organization engages Whatcom County community members in stewardship, inspiring meaningful connections between people, land, and each other.

May 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,670 to Royal Family Kids Camp!

Royal Family KIDS creates positive, life-changing moments for innocent children aged 6-11 who have experienced neglect, abuse and abandonment.

RFK gives them a weeklong summer camp to create moments that matter and treat the campers royally!

At Royal Family Kids Camp, campers receive one-on-one attention from safe, caring adults modeling positive connections and relationships. For one week, instead of operating in survival mode, they can just be kids. With tea parties, crafts, woodworking, birthday parties, music, dress up and much more, these kids can feel "normal" and once again dream, believe and find new hope for their future.

The Bellingham camp has been serving kids in the Whatcom County area since 1993. Each summer RFK blesses up to 68 campers and are staffed completely by volunteers who give a week of their summer to invest in the lives of these children. This camp is provided at no cost to the child, the foster care family or the State and is purely funded through private donations and grants.

Royal Family Kids Camp is an incredible organization that is near to the hearts of many at Barron. In fact, several Barron Team Members volunteer each year at the camp as camp counselors, event coordinators, kitchen staff, and other various support roles.

April 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $12,760 to Wild Bird Charity!

No child goes hungry—Wild Bird Charity is committed to making this a reality and feeding every hungry child in Whatcom County. They currently provide two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and several snacks to children in Whatcom County every weekend. The organization partners with 27 area schools who identify families in need and distribute bags of food to the kids each Friday. The need continues to grow, and Wild Bird Charity is determined to meet it.  Learn More

March 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,670 to Support National MS Society!

March is MS Awareness Month, and we could not be more excited to help the National MS Society in their efforts to find a cure for MS!  

One unique facet of this particular month’s partnership is that Barron’s combined donation will be going to a Bike MS: Deception Pass Classic Barron team. 100% of the proceeds of this team donation go toward the National MS Society and finding a cure for MS. The Deception Pass Classic takes place September 7-8 in Mount Vernon, WA. 

The work the National MS Society does has special meaning for the Barron Family—Barron’s co-founder, Vivian Barron, suffered from Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, also know as RRMS (Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) | National MS Society) from her mid-30s through her passing in 2017 at the age of 82. Vivian was one of the kindest, bravest people you’d ever meet, with a deep love for her family, friends, and co-workers. She had a profound impact on anyone that was blessed to know her and be around her. This month, we give to the National MS Society in her honor and will "Ride for Vivian" in September.

Feburary 2024—Barron KARES Proudly Donated $10,450 to Support Skookum Kids!

Skookum Kids believes in building resilient communities where children experiencing foster care can thrive. They are a foster care nonprofit with four major priorities in Northwest Washington and beyond. Learn More