First Tech Federal Credit Union and Hopelink are partnering together to serve homeless and low-income families in the Kirkland area for the Christmas season.

First Tech recently completed their toy collection run at its Rose Hill location. The toys will be donated to Hopelink to fill their holiday gift rooms where parents and grandparents can “shop” for presents for their kids, to be open until around Christmas Eve. Hopelink CEO Lauren Thomas said that the gifts rooms are a way for them to ensure that all kids get gifts for the holidays regardless of their financial situation. Their Kirkland/Northshore location at 11011 120th Ave. NE is among their busiest in the region, with 7,874 people served in the past year.

In addition to their food bank, the center also provides emergency financial assistance, energy assistance and employment services. First opening the center in 1971, she said demand has risen as the city has grown.

“The need has been growing along with the growth and population in our area,” she said. “The poverty is staying right with it. Some people are saying the poverty rate grows faster than the population growth rate, and everything I read in all the magazines here and the data we see on the Eastside is that even though there continues to be high income wage earners, there are very low income kids on free and reduced lunches and individuals facing homelessness and unemployment.”

However, she said that this year Hopelink has seen record levels of corporate participation in their holiday toy collection, with 220 drives. Although this is First Tech’s second toy drive for Hopelink and they have worked with them starting in 2009 and donated $105,000 since then, Community Engagement Specialist Emily Rose said they hope to do year-long philanthropy with Hopelink. In addition to their Rose Hill location, First Tech also collected toys at their Bellevue City Center, RidgePointe and Bella Bottega branches. Recently Hopelink was able to provide 5,875 Thanksgiving meals through their five food banks, which are intended to supplement a family’s groceries. However, during the winter higher heating bills can put an even greater strain on families’ budgets. First Tech’s donations enabled Hopelink to purchase 1,488 chickens for smaller families (2-3 people).

Rose said that First Tech is looking to contribute to education, child health and basic human needs, with Hopelink fulfilling the third.

“Something we really aim to be involved in are the places that are near our locations,” she said.