Bellevue community member and Fairweather Circle Member Noreli Domínguez Acosta is stepping up as a Table Captain this year for our Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon on April 23.
We are so grateful for community members like Noreli, who are willing to jump in and help when and where needed. Whether donating snacks, helping set up our new Bellevue Family Hub, prepping food vouchers for delivery, or hosting a table, we can count on Noreli to support Bellevue kids.
Noreli is a parent of three children attending schools in the Bellevue School District. “We are a family of five. I have my oldest boy, a senior right now, so he’s 17. And then I have my middle one in fourth grade, and he’s nine. And then my little one is seven now, and she’s a second grader.”
Her family moved to Bellevue from Mexico City in 2019 for her husband’s new job. “We decided to choose Bellevue because we were looking for a good school district,” shared Noreli. “That’s one of the reasons we ended up in the area.” We agree with Noreli. Bellevue schools are the best!
Noreli’s Bellevue LifeSpring story starts when her new neighbor Maggie Vergien introduced her to our mission. “We were super lucky to arrive and to land in this house with wonderful neighbors. I met Maggie, who was very active in supporting Bellevue LifeSpring’s mission,” Noreli recalls. “She just knocked on my door and said, “Hi, I’m your neighbor, and welcome to the neighborhood.” We went for coffee. I was really impressed with the warm welcome.”
Maggie is a Bellevue LifeSpring Board Member, Fairweather Circle Member, and one of the 2024 Luncheon Chairs. She talked with Noreli about Bellevue LifeSpring and shared information about circle membership. Inspired by the impactful work and the generosity of the Fairweather Circle members, Noreli eagerly joined the circle.
As a circle member, Noreli appreciates engaging in hands-on volunteer work and connecting with others in the community. She particularly values being able to assist Spanish-speaking individuals and leveraging her language skills for the benefit of others.
“The work Bellevue LifeSpring does is incredible, and it all goes back to my community,” said Noreli. “The ladies of Fairweather Circle, oh my gosh, they are just giving, super organized and energetic. That really inspires me. I used to work in Mexico City, but I am not working here. I decided it would be a very good transition to volunteer and give to my community.”
For Bellevue LifeSpring Circle Members, our annual luncheon is all about building community around the shared purpose of preventing hunger for local children. This year, Noreli is co-hosting a table, aiming to introduce more individuals to our organization.
“I want to see new faces coming in and helping,” said Noreli. “How much you give doesn’t actually matter, right? Someone has a lot of time; someone has a larger money capacity. It doesn’t matter. Everyone has a place when it comes to helping Bellevue children.”
Noreli’s commitment to Bellevue children stems from the sense of belonging and support she has found within the Bellevue LifeSpring community. “I believe that if a kid doesn’t have the basic needs, it will be very difficult to thrive in life. For me, it’s very important to build community. With me being different, I still feel like I belong here. There’s a group of people who care about me and my well-being. That’s one of the main things that keeps me involved with Bellevue LifeSpring.”
As she prepares to co-host a table alongside a close friend, Noreli offers two pieces of advice for prospective hosts: you don’t have to tackle it alone, and you’re never alone with Bellevue LifeSpring. “The community of Bellevue LifeSpring is very supportive,” shared Noreli.
You can join Noreli and build your Bellevue LifeSpring community on Tuesday, April 23, at our Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon. Learn more.
