LYDIA PLACE | OFFICIAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | JULY 2020
Closing of Wise Buys Thrift Store
Dear Lydia Place and Wise Buys Community,

We write to you today with a mix of sadness and celebration. After 30 years of providing great bargains for a great cause, to our Lydia Place families and the greater community, the Wise Buys Thrift Store will not reopen. Due to the hard economic impact of the Covid-19 closure and the constraints on reopening for the foreseeable future, the Board and staff at Lydia Place have accepted the difficult reality that Wise Buys cannot remain a program of Lydia Place.

The mission of Wise Buys was to process and sell community donations...

Vote, Vote, Vote!
PRIMARY 2020 Election (8/4/2020)

  • Are you registered to vote?
  • Have you changed your name?
  • Is your address current?
  • Do you know the location of your nearest drop box?
  • Need to check the status of your Ballot?

VoteWA.Gov has everything you need to be ready for election day.

Support LP while you shop!
AmazonSmile in the Shopping App

You can now support your favorite charity through the Amazon app on your iPhone and Android Phones. By turning on the AmazonSmile feature, Amazon will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to Lydia Place every time you shop- no additional cost to you. As of May 2020 AmazonSmile shoppers have generated $970.96 to Lydia Place families!


Scroll down to the Ongoing Need section to view our current Amazon wishlists.
Join our Team
We are looking for the next amazing humans to join our dynamic team and be a part of our vision of a compassionate community where everyone has a home and the opportunity to thrive.

In order to continue this process and for everyone, we've established new hiring procedures to ensure prospective applicants and our staff can stay safe and healthy during the application process.

To view current career opportunities with us, please visit our career and engagement opportunities page by clicking the button below.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Super Good Campaign is LIVE!

Actors Michael Sheen and local Whatcom County gem, Misha Collins, just launched a SUPER GOOD campaign using their SUPER angelic powers to raise funds for homelessness. Grab your limited edition t-shirts and necklace with 100% of the proceeds to benefit homeless relief, including those affected by Covid-19.

A special thank you to Michael, Misha, Vicki, and the Random Acts family for continuing to support the mission of Lydia Place and for always surprising us with your SUPER GOOD-doing generosity and shenanigans!

CAMPAIGN SUNSETS 10:00PM PDT TUESDAY, AUG 11, 2020


Handbags for Housing
We're going Virtual!
Thursday, September 17th

While COVID-19 may keep us physically apart, our love of fashion and philanthropy will unite us on September 17th with a FREE live streaming fashion show featuring local businesses, online handbag auction, gift boxes to purchase, and raffle prizes to win! 
 
For those that want to enjoy a VIP experience, for $150 a themed and curated gift box (value $300+) will be delivered to your door. VIPs also receive early access to the auction and entry into a VIP exclusive watch party. 

All event proceeds benefit Lydia Place programs and services- which are needed now more than ever. Event registration is now open, so get yourself registered and ready for an evening of fun, fashion, and philanthropy... because you are too SWEET! 


Bellingham Alive's Best of the Northwest

It's that time of year again,  Bellingham Alive 's Best of the Northwest 2020 voting is now open! Voting is a quick and easy way to show some extra love to the incredible humans that bring their unique talents, skills, vision, and compassion to the many wonderful local businesses that serve our community. Voting closes August 5th.

COMMUNITY CARES
Community Cares celebrates individuals and businesses who coordinated a drive and/or donated 100% of proceeds in order to fulfill an immediate Lydia Place need.

Community Cares: PSE Awards Lydia Place with Solar Grant

In an effort to support Washington families impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic,  Puget Sound Energy  (PSE) is granting nearly $580,000 in new solar installations to 10 organizations within its service areas that provide essential services to families in need. This PSE 235kW Green Power Grant will save nearly 240,000kWh helping our planet while also reducing the operating cost for the organizations receiving them.


Community Cares: RAM Construction

Earlier this month, our Executive Director, Emily O'Connor, mentioned a shortage of kid-sized cloth masks in our community. Shortly after CEO, Mike Hammes of Ram Construction delivered 200 SUPER cool kid-sized cloth masks to LP!

Thanks to SUPERHEROES like Mr. Hammes and the folks at RAM Construction, LP families now have access to fun, SUPER POWERFUL masks to keep them safe and protected.

Special thank you to Attison, Rowan, and Finnley O'Connor for demonstrating how SUPER COOL it is to wear a mask!
Community Cares: Six Decades of Love

Inspired by a woman who raised funds for her birthday, Betty and Paul wanted to do something similar in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. Instead of gifts, the couple asked their friends and family to give a gift that "does good for others."

Their daughter Cathy decided to honor her parents' wishes by gifting new books to Lydia Place. "I chose Lydia Place because I admire the work they do and I wanted to give something to families with young kids. It's always exciting to get a new book. I'm confident that through Lydia Place these books will find a good home and be enjoyed over and over again." 

Thank you to Betty and Paul for allowing their hearts to be inspired after all these years together and for using their love story to hopefully inspire others to do the same. Happy Anniversary Betty & Paul, we thank you and Cathy for your thoughtful gift.


Community Cares: CTK, Grow Source and Volunteers

Thank you to CTK for providing the funds for our Bell Tower garden box project and to Grow Source for providing us with a truck load (literally) of high-quality soil. Your generosity afforded us the opportunity to give LP families more than just housing units, but a beautiful space and environment to call home.
A special thank you to our Campus Housing Coordinator, April McCabe and her team of volunteers who worked tirelessly designing, hauling, building, and installing this little slice of heaven for our families.

Before Garden Box Installation
Garden Boxes filled with Grow Source Soil
Kiddo approved!
FEATURED PARTNERSHIPS
Featured Partnership: PSE a Powerful Partnership

PSE’s gas and electric lines are broken more than 1,000 times a year, and much of the time it’s because people don’t call 811. Be sure to call 811 two business days (not counting the day you call) before you do any digging. Outline your dig area in white paint and wait to dig until each utility has marked the ground. They’ll mark their lines for free.

Once the underground lines have been marked, be sure to only use hand tools when digging within two feet of the marked lines. Digging without knowing what’s below puts you at risk for injury and a big bill for repairs or fines for violating the law.

To learn more visit: pse.com/callbeforeyoudig

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Urgent! Canine Behavioral Training
Family and doggo at risk of losing housing

We are seeking direct support and/or recommendations for canine behavioral training for a family at risk of losing housing and/or their beloved pet.

If you are a trainer, or know of a trainer with experience in cases such as this, please contact Lydia Place Community Engagement Coordinator, Rita Thames at ritat@lydiaplace.org
New and Gently Used Handbags
Handbags for Housing fundraiser

This event is truly all about the bag! That's why we need your help to ensure we have a variety of handbags to offer our guests who are shopping for everything from designer to original, one-of-a-kind unique pieces to add to their wardrobe.
 
Have a great bag in your closet that you know someone else will love?
 
If you have a new or very gently used handbag you would like to donate to our auction you can start the process by filling out a donation form  HERE.
ONGOING NEEDS
Ongoing Needs Now Listed on Amazon

At Lydia Place we value our community and that means we shop local whenever possible. Due to our inability to accept donations in-person, we've had to find alternative ways to continue to provide essential items to our families in need. One of the ways we're doing that is through Amazon Wishlists in order to limit person-to-person contact as much as possible.


These lists can also be used as a reference if you wish to shop locally. We just ask that if you aren't purchasing items from Amazon that they be mailed directly to Lydia Place. If you'd like to discuss on-going donation needs or delivery please contact Community Engagement Coordinator, Rita Thames at ritat@lydiaplace.org

WHERE TO DONATE USED ITEMS
Welcome Back Lydia Place Donation Partners!

The following businesses are currently accepting donations, however, we strongly encourage you to contact each business for their current COVID-19 donation policies and procedures as they vary from business to business.

Friendly Reminder : You must mention Lydia Place during your donation process at the following locations for us to receive credit for our families. Thank you!
Donate Furniture, Building Supplies, Appliances, and Household Items
Habitat for Humanity
1825 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 778-2036
Donate Children's and Maternity Items
Flip Kids and Maternity Consignment
1512 Ellis Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 671-0954
Donate Vehicles (Working or not!)
Donate for Charity
(866) 392-4483

Get a minimum $500 deduction (or higher, depending on what your car sells for) and Lydia Place receives the net proceeds.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
At Lydia Place we believe it is our responsibility to actively challenge systems of oppression. We recognize a majority of those experiencing homelessness have been marginalized.
IN CLIENT RELATIONS: We start form a place of learning; recognizing that the client voice must shape our work.
IN THE WORKPLACE: At all levels of the agency, we dedicate time and space to engaging in meaningful dialogue around our individual and collective contributions to inequity. We hold each other accountable for our missteps and embrace discomfort in pursuit of social justice. We work to reflect the diversity of the community we serve. We look for ways to evolve as an agency rather than accepting the status quo.
IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY: In our interactions with community members, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders, we us our voice to address racism and oppression, and leverage positive change.

Americans with Disabilities Act
Happy 30th Anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! Did you know that the ADA National Network is a free resource that provides information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act? Learn more about the resources you can access here:  https://adata.org/national-network  
Washington Housing Action Alert!
247,959 renter households were unable to pay rent in June. Meanwhile, on August 1st at midnight, our state eviction moratorium will expire, leaving every single one of these households without protection from eviction.
Black and Latinx households are many times more likely than white households to be at risk of eviction when the moratorium is lifted.

Join us taking 3-5 minutes to send a letter to Governor Inslee urging our state legislators to extend the eviction moratorium through March 2021 to allow the Legislature time to vote on a longer-term solution to housing stability during COVID-19.
Lydia Place's Equity Book Club
In January we launched an agency-wide equity book club as a way for us to continue to engage in this meaningful work as a team. This practice has been so rewarding and insightful that we wanted to begin sharing what we're reading with our supporters. We hope it inspires others to continue learning and reflecting on our professional and personal role in making sure Whatcom County is a place where EVERYONE has a home AND an equal opportunity to thrive.

Last month's book The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein served as a sobering reminder that the extreme poverty and homelessness we see today is a historical perpetuation of a system that treats housing and development as a commodity meant to benefit only white people. Rothstein illustrates how federal, state, and local governments systematically imposed residential segregation, and encouraged police and prosecutors to brutally uphold these standards which attributed to the current racial divide and housing inequities we are experiencing today.
GOOD NEWS
On-screen angels Misha Collins and Michael Sheen team up ...

Right now the world could use a few more angels, even of the fictional variety. With that in mind, Supernatural 's Misha Collins and 's Michael Sheen, who both play angels on their respective series, are joining forces for the first time to do a...

Read more
ew.com
PSE Awards Local Organizations Funding for New Solar...

Submitted by Puget Sound Energy As the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families throughout Washington, local organizations that have been helping them will receive support from Puget Sound Energy. PSE will grant nearly $580,000 to 10 organizations ...

Read more
www.whatcomtalk.com
CONTRIBUTOR CIRCLE

Thank You Housing HEROES!
Jeanne Baker, Matthew Barrow, David Beaumier, Drew Betz, Brianna Brumbaugh, Michael & Mary Brunt, Gabriel H. Byram, Karen & Richard Clark, Jennifer Cool, Susan Costanzo, Sue Ann Croft, Shannon Day, Cayla Dickens, Michelle Dohm, Pamela E. Englett, Graham Essex, Steve Forbes, Rachel Garcia, Kaitlyn Gerard, Audrey E. Gravley, Mindy Gravley, Alycia Hawkins, Roxanna Hayes, Lisa Heezen, Amy Johnson, Ann Lackland, Tom Laughlin, Sonja Lee, Erin Lynch, Megan McGinty, Dustin McKissen, Kathleen McQuaide, Heather Michel, Patti Morgan, Marilyn Moullen, Shenandoah Myrick, Nina Nancarrow, Tammie O'Dell, Laura Ann Owens, Susan Palmer, Deborah Parker, Kristen Parsons, Melanie Pysden, Misty Kaye Rainwater, Amanda Robins, Jillene Snell, Delores Starcher, Pete Stelling, Sterling Rentals 1 LLC, Ryan Thramer, Jeffery Y. Tom, Peter Turner, Shawna Unger, Trent Vigor, Elizabeth Walukas

Attention Lydia Place Housing Heroes Monthly Contributors

You may update or change your credit card details via our Financial Manager, Judy Wayt at 360.671.7663 ext 2003 or by filling out a new online donation form with your new credit card information here.


Thank you the following collectives who gave a one-time gift this month!
John S. Allen, Anonymous, Robert Ball, BP Foundation, Charities Aid Foundation of America, The J. Christopher & Ann C. Donahue Charitable Fund, Lucy Evans, Exact Scientific Services, Inc., Birttany Rose Fay, Seth Garrido, Scott & Christina Ham, Erick Harpole, Molly Honcoop, Donna Loken, Lummi Indian Business Council, Kristen A Meyer, Moms Club of Ferndale, MTE Fund, Network for Good, Dawn Oehlerich, Cara Piscitello, Mariah Rose Sebastiani, RoseMarie Slay, Racheal Super, Devin Trueb, United Way of King County, Marc Watson, Safeway-Albertsons Foundation

How the CARES Act Impacts Charitable Giving for 2020

New Deduction Available: Non-itemizer taxpayers can write off up to $300 ($600 for a married couple) in charitable cash contributions for 2020. This is available only to people who take the standard deduction, not for people who can itemize their deductions on Schedule A. It is an “above the line” deduction from income that will reduce a donor’s adjusted gross income (AGI), and thereby reduce taxable income.

This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.

Lydia Place is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by the law.