Mother Teresa once said, “It is easy to love people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.”
I moved to Mercer Island almost six years ago and was overwhelmed by the sense of community and connection. I joined the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation Board of Directors two years ago for one simple reason — I wanted to do something for others. I wanted to give something back to the community where I live.
As a Mercer Island resident, a father and a leader of this organization, I know of the impact that Youth and Family Services has on this community. Here are some startling facts that are a reality of the current economic crisis:
In the past two years, demand at the food pantry has increased by 100 percent.
In the past year, requests for assistance to pay utilities have risen 66 percent.
YFS counselors are seeing a growing number of youth affected by family stress.
These are just a few of the urgencies created by the recent downturn in the economy. Job seekers still come to YFS for help in finding employment. Mercer Island schoolchildren still depend upon YFS counselors for guidance and support. As the baby boom generation begins to reach into their 60s and 70s, the need for senior outreach case management and counseling continues to grow.
YFS is prepared to respond to these emerging needs. But we are dependent upon community support. That’s why this year’s ‘Giving from the Heart’ Benefit Breakfast is more important than ever. That’s why your participation in and attendance at this event is vital, and why I call on you for support.
It’s a free breakfast brought to you by many sponsors and happens on Feb. 10 at the Community Center at Mercer View. Registration and socializing starts at 7 a.m. Breakfast and the program start around 7:30 a.m., and the event is over by 8:30 a.m., though many people like to stay afterward to again socialize and network.
Donations received at this event go to support the many programs that make up YFS’ “safety net.” These include individual and family counseling, counseling in the schools, senior outreach, youth court diversion, job search support, emergency assistance, food bank and youth leadership programs. This year, the school-based YFS counselors will be highlighted. School-based services are the cornerstone to accessible youth prevention and treatment services.
Mercer Island residents have an exceptional record when it comes to giving back and doing for others. As individuals and families, we have so many gifts and strengths, and yet, like every community, some social service needs will never go away completely. I urge you to attend ‘Giving from the Heart’ on Feb. 10 and continue our history of giving back.
Daniel Eagan is a board member of the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation.
