Mark Knittel introduced the Whatcom County Center on Aging (WCOA) Executive Director Chris Orr. The WCOA is a 501c3 non-profit. It was started in 1964 and operates under the motto of “Connect, Nourish and Thrive."
Our meeting was held at the WCOA's new facility at 140 Bellis Fair Parkway. It is 28,000 ft.² – twice the size of the old building. (The WCOA purchased it from the Whatcom Educational Credit Union, who had used it as a call center.) The size of the building will allow the WCOA to combine its operations under one roof. It is ADA compliant, air-conditioned, acoustically enhanced, and with easy access via WTA main bus routes and strong connections to nearby senior living communities. It offers 30% of useful space, 102 on-site parking stalls and flexible rooms designed for growth, comfort and increased community outreach.
Mr. Orr noted in Whatcom County there is a 42% projected growth in adults age 60 and over by 2050, and a 207% projected growth in adults age 85 and over by 2040.
One in three older adults in Whatcom County identified family and social connections as the most important contributor to their quality of life. Mr. Orr stated that nationally one out of two seniors is living alone, and lacks the income to pay for their basic needs. One out of three people, nationally, are on a waitlist for meals on wheels – the average waitlist is four months. There has never been a waitlist in Whatcom County thanks to resources and a strong volunteer core.
Their mission is to offer nutritional, health, social, recreational and educational programs for members of the community age 50 and older.
The WCOA delivers types of four programs: 1) Meals on Wheels, 2) Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 3) Bellingham at Home and 4) Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA).
The WCOA has been providing service to Whatcom and San Juan County for 62 years. It currently has 2,292 members comprised of individuals 15 and over – and it is growing. They have 390 volunteers. WCOA provides 229,835 meals annually. They also provided 1625 hours of service for seniors needing light duty home help in 2025.
Mr. Orr told us that WCOA’s meals on wheels program is a lifeline for older adults in our community. It is more than just a meal, it provides connection, care and support, meeting individuals where they are and empowering them to age in place in their homes. For some people it serves as a weekly wellness check. The new commercial kitchen will enable fresh, customized meals, to better support the health of older adults. Currently, 80% of the meals delivered are prepackaged and frozen, and not easily tailored to meet dietary preferences.
Communal, economical meals are also available at the center, for members and nonmembers.
Mr. Orr told us the cost of the new building, with renovations, is expected to be around $15 million. The existing center, on Halleck Street belongs to Whatcom County and will be used by the County for a different purpose.
WCOA staff led us on tours of the facility, which included up-to-date accessible rest rooms, many rooms for activities with easily movable chairs and tables, and larger rooms for presentations and communal eating. The space was open, well-kept, and seemed to offer many opportunities.
