Spring is now here, and with it a feeling of newness and rebirth in the air. The rain is beginning to wash away the winter months, and everywhere there are little pops of color, with flowers scattering along the road. While few and far between, we are beginning to see sunshine, and the promise of warmer days. Spring is a great reminder of the work of Lydia Place and the road to independence for those we serve. What once were dark days, cold and seemingly unending, are now replaced with bright futures, with renewed hope and promise for better days. Our families are on the road to sustainable housing, and the work of our volunteers, staff, and supporters are their own flowers alongside them.
Join us in disrupting the cycle of homelessness. Give today!
Tickets on Sale Now for Seeing PINK
We are less than a month away from the jazziest and pinkest night Bellingham has ever seen! Join us at the Ciao Thyme Commons in downtown Bellingham for the ultimate happy hour. You'll enjoy food from Ciao Thyme, paired cocktails, sweets from Saltadena and BIJA Chocolates, and the smooth sounds of the Julian MacDonough Trio. Keep the night going--upgrade your ticket to include a seat to Pink Martini at the Mount Baker Theatre RIGHT after! Learn more and get your tickets today!
Start that spring cleaning and pull out those gently used handbags! Whatcom County's biggest fashion event is June 7th, and you're invited! We're moving Handbags for Housing to Barkley Village, and it's sure to be our biggest (literally!) and best yet. And with an Alice in Wonderland tea party theme, it's sure to be the event everyone keeps talking about. Tickets go on sale April 1, so mark your calendars!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Did you know that Lydia Place is supported by over 11,000 volunteer hours a year?! You could be part of that with two unique opportunities. On April 22, to celebrate Earth Day, we're cleaning up State Street and Wise Buys downtown to be good neighbors and stewards of our planet. Then on April 28 we're hosting a Stress Management Workshop for some of our clients and need volunteers to help provide childcare. Email lindseyv@lydiaplace.org for more information today!
Vagina Monologues on Sale Now
The Vagina Monologues returns to Bellingham! Three performances of this award-winning play will celebrate Mother's Day this year, with proceeds benefitting Lydia Place! Tickets are $25, and available now. This will sell out--get your tickets before they're gone!
Supernatural Fans are...Well...Super!
Our good friend Misha brought his love of Lydia Place to this past weekend's Supernatural Convention in Seattle. His organization Random Acts asked fans to bring books, baby items, home essentials, and more for Lydia Place families. Thank you so very much to Random Acts, Misha, and Misha's Minions, who all came together to #GetKind!
Welcome Our New Staff Members!
March has been a busy month for Team LP! We're welcoming FOUR new staff members to our team, and we are so excited to see the amazing work they'll do on behalf of our families. So join us in saying hello to Carrie Cook (Case Manager--Campus Support Program), Lauren Oswald (Parent Educator), Rebecque Asher (Graphic Design/Marketing Specialist), and Louis Walbrek (Case Manager--Family Services Program)!
Get inspired with this success story courtesy of Housing Program Supervisor Ashley Thomasson.

Tracy and her partner Greyson came to Lydia Place in October of 2017. Both young, they had been in a couple previous housing situations where they were evicted after trying to sustain their first apartments after just turning 18 and having no natural support systems. Being on and off the streets the last few years, they had acquired some minor criminal history and came to us with active warrants, another barrier preventing them from getting housing. But despite all the challenges they faced, they had a 5 year old son and 7 month old daughter and were desperate to do anything in order to provide a roof over their children's heads. After 4 months of working hard to quash their warrants and address their past rental history, they were housed through our Family Services Program in a unit with our Landmark Partnership. With a newfound confidence in themselves and the peace a new home brings, they have continued to work with their case manager to conquer challenges their first month in housing and keep pushing forward with their goals for sustained independence.

Congratulations Tracy and Greyson on your new home!
Check out these events and articles from our community!
The City of Bellingham has begun to restrict where individuals living in their cars can park . Learn more about this initiative, courtesy of The Bellingham Herald.
With the changing weather, it's time to get ready to go outside! Update your outdoor gear with Salt & Cedar, and know some of the profits will benefit Lydia Place!
The beloved Farmers Market is back! Wise Buys will be there April 21st, supporting the market and promoting shopping local.
See you there!
This month, we were awarded a grant from the NW Children's Fund for $12,000 to heal abused children, strengthen families, and help at-risk youth in our Parent Support Program. We are so grateful for this continued support and partnership with NWCF!
Join the Northwest Children's Fund and support Lydia Place!
360.671.7663 | info@lydiaplace.org | www.lydiaplace.org
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