The Adopt-a-Family Program at Youth Eastside Services (YES) provides welcome economic relief to YES families by bringing community members together to meet needs during the holidays and throughout the year. YES is currently seeking companies, community groups and individuals to sponsor a family or child from Eastside communities.

This year, donors can help with more than just holiday gifts by funding a child’s summer camp experience, or providing emergency funds to young mothers and their small children. Gifts to help offset costs of uncompensated care will also be accepted as part of the Adopt-a-Family Program.

YES offers counseling, outreach and prevention services to youth and families struggling with family violence, anxiety, depression and substance abuse and they serve all kids, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. This year, YES has experienced a 20 percent increase in care for families without insurance, Medicaid or the financial resources to pay for services.

“The demand for our services has increased 29 percent this year over last,” said YES’ Adopt-a-Family Coordinator Anthony Blankenship. “But many families have needs beyond the services YES can provide—and their needs are greater than ever. It’s our hope that our generous sponsors will not only meet holiday needs, but provide funds that can help throughout the year.”

Sponsors are given a wish list from their adopted family or individual by Nov. 22 and are asked to give a minimum of one new gift and one article of clothing to each child in a family, as well as a family household gift, such as a vacuum cleaner or kitchen necessities. Gifts must be delivered to the YES office in Bellevue at 999 164 Ave. N.E. by Dec. 15. Gift cards and donations will be accepted anytime.

Adopt-A-Family recipients are YES clients who have been identified by a YES counselor and they must meet financial eligibility to be part of the program. Last year, donors assisted more than 140 families, some 500 plus people, making this one of the largest holiday programs on the Eastside. YES is accepting Adopt-a-Family sponsors through Nov. 17. To sponsor a family or to learn about other ways to help, please contact Anthony Blankenship at 425-586-2323 or AnthonyB@YouthEastsideServices.org.