Dear Bellevue Community,
With the Thanksgiving holiday around the corner, Bellevue LifeSpring would like to express our immense gratitude to our local community for all you do to support children in need here in Bellevue.
A Spark of Generosity
Bellevue LifeSpring started from a spark of generosity, dating all the way back to 1911 when a group of local women formed a coalition dedicated to supporting their Bellevue neighbors in need. They called themselves the Overlake Service League and delivered food baskets, goats for milk, seeds and farm equipment to help families plant and harvest food.
As Bellevue grew, so did the need. Over the years Overlake Service League, now known as Bellevue LifeSpring, went from serving hundreds to thousands of Bellevue residents. That tradition of neighbors helping neighbors continues on today.
A Community in Action
Local Bellevue residents and businesses give back in a multitude of ways – from making snack packs for hungry Bellevue students, to supporting our annual Uncork the Night and Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon fundraising events and even volunteering to help run Thrift Culture, Bellevue LifeSpring’s thrift shop. They say “it takes a village” and Bellevue LifeSpring knows we can always count on our community to help us continue to support and provide children with their basic needs.
A Story of Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Three recent high school graduates from Bellevue, Sammamish and Interlake High Schools were in the midst of experiencing homelessness and had no adult support in their lives. The City of Bellevue, Bellevue School District and Bellevue College partnered to provide scholarships to attend Bellevue College and housing in the dorms free-of-cost.
However, with the little resources these students have – there is no budget for necessities typically needed when you move into a dorm for the first time. With housing and education costs covered, members of Bellevue LifeSpring’s One Circle graciously took on the project of collecting and donating all of their dorm room essentials. These students now have everything they need to set up their own spaces for the first time.
This is just one of many examples of Bellevue residents jumping into action when they hear that there is a need in their community.
A Thank You to You!
This Thanksgiving, and throughout the year, Bellevue LifeSpring is grateful to be able to provide nutrition, warmth, opportunity and stability for children in need, thanks to your collective generosity. We truly could not do this work without you. Happy Thanksgiving!
In Gratitude,
Your Bellevue LifeSpring Neighbors
