Wash. Police Officers Use Debit Cards to Help Residents in Need

A new Ferndale police program gives officers debit cards to cover small but critical needs during calls, with donations determining how long the effort continues.

By Hannah Edelman

Source The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

April 7, 2026

2 min read

What to know

The Ferndale Police Department has launched a program allowing officers to use debit cards to provide immediate assistance to community members in need.
The program partners with BlueBridge Alliance and allows officers to pay for essentials such as food, fuel, clothing, shelter or medication.
Funding came from a $10,000 donation from Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery, with future operations relying on continued donations.

Ferndale police's new officer debit card program — The Ferndale, WA, Police Department has launched a new program that gives officers debit cards to allow them to pay for items such as food, clothing, or medications for community members in need.

The Ferndale Police Department has implemented a new program to give officers debit cards to pay for assistance for community members in need.

The program is through a partnership with BlueBridge Alliance, a Kennewick-based nonprofit that works with almost 60 law enforcement agencies. The nonprofit was founded in 2020 with a goal of strengthening relationships between police and the community. Last year, it supported at least 371 community engagements across the state, most of which were related to youth diversion and life safety.

Through the program, officers receive BlueBridge debit cards that are linked to community-supported funds. Officers can use the cards to pay for items such as food, clothing, fuel, temporary shelter or medications for those in need, according to the Ferndale Police Department. Expenditures typically amount to about $50 to $100 per individual served.

The funding for Ferndale’s program came from a $10,000 contribution from the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery. The program will continue to rely on donations to keep it running.

“Law enforcement officers regularly encounter people who are struggling but may not need enforcement action — they simply need a helping hand,” said Ferndale Police Chief Matt Huffman in a news release. “The BlueBridge program gives our officers a practical tool to respond with compassion and provide real, immediate support when it can make the greatest difference.”

The department said that the program offers alternatives to traditional law enforcement and can prevent situations from escalating, potentially diverting people from the criminal justice system.

“We’re proud to support the Ferndale Police Department in bringing the BlueBridge program to Ferndale as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen the communities where we live and work,” said Pillips 66 Vice President Kevin Schmitt in the release. “This partnership reflects our values of safety, honor and commitment, and the importance of working together to support those in need.”

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