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 holiday season. YES is currently seeking companies, community groups and individuals to sponsor a family from Eastside communities.

Sponsors are notified of their adopted family or individual by Nov. 22 and are asked to give a minimum of one $50 gift card per child in the family, plus one $50 gift card for the family. Gift cards must be delivered to the YES office in Bellevue at 999 164th Ave. N.E. by Dec. 15. Check, cash or online 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 50 families, some 200 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, contact Lindsey Peterson at (425) 586-2318 or LindseyP@YouthEastsideServices.org.

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 15 percent increase in care for families without insurance, Medicaid or the financial resources to pay for services.