Nearly six months after floodwaters swept through the Sumas and Everson areas of Whatcom County, two local nonprofits have received nearly $750,000 in grants to help families with young children who are still rebuilding their lives. The Whatcom Healthy Children's Fund announced this week that the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group and Skookum Kids will share the award through its Winter Storm Recovery Assistance Program.
The Healthy Children's Fund was approved by Whatcom County voters in 2022 as a dedicated revenue source for programs serving children from birth through age five. In December 2025, the Whatcom County Council unanimously authorized up to $750,000 from the fund to support flood-impacted families, recognizing that the households most vulnerable in the immediate aftermath of a disaster often remain the most vulnerable months later, when media attention has moved on and emergency resources have dried up.
The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group received the larger share, $500,000, to support housing stabilization for affected families. That money can go toward home repairs not covered by insurance, rent or deposit assistance, utility payments, and temporary lodging. Ashley Butenschoen, communications director for WLTRG, said the funding fills gaps that remain even after federal and state disaster assistance has been applied. "This grant from the Healthy Children's Fund allows us to quickly bridge critical gaps, helping families impacted and ensuring children ages 0 to 5 are safe, secure, and ready to learn," she said.
The second grantee, Skookum Kids, received nearly $250,000 to serve families dealing with what the organization describes as multiple compounding stressors. That population includes very low-income households, families in substance use recovery, and those with histories of domestic violence who were also affected by the December storms. Skookum Kids provides foster care support and wraparound services in Whatcom County, with a particular focus on children who face the highest risk of long-term harm from housing instability.
The December 2025 flooding hit the Nooksack River valley particularly hard, with the Sumas, Everson, and Nooksack areas bearing significant damage. FEMA recovery teams have continued working in the area through June 10, according to the Whatcom County Emergency Management briefing issued this week. The combination of federal recovery support and locally-directed funds reflects the multi-layered approach required to support families through extended recovery timelines that can stretch for years after a major flood event.
The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group is a coalition of nonprofit, government, and faith-based organizations that coordinates disaster recovery services across Whatcom County. It has been active since previous flood events in the region and maintains relationships with the network of agencies that families need to navigate in the aftermath of a disaster. The group's role is specifically to manage cases and coordinate resources after the immediate emergency response phase has ended.
Families who were affected by the December 2025 flooding and have young children may be eligible for assistance through either program. The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group can be reached through whatcomltrecovery.org to inquire about housing stabilization support. Skookum Kids can be reached directly for families dealing with complex multi-stressor situations.
For additional context on the county's ongoing emergency preparedness work, including water rights and drought conditions affecting Whatcom County this summer, free help sessions for water rights claims are available this month through the Whatcom Conservation District.
The Whatcom Healthy Children's Fund distributes grants annually to programs serving young children in the county, funded by a dedicated property tax levy. This flood recovery allocation represents a targeted use of those funds for acute community need, separate from the fund's regular grant cycle.
