Bellevue Firefighters Community Support Foundation have donated backpacks filled with school supplies to young teens and siblings of Youth Eastside Services’ (YES) Success Mentoring program. The youth were able to pick their backpack at a special Back-to-School event held at YES’ Bellevue office Aug. 24.

The mentors, mentees and family members ate dinner, played games and snapped photos with complimentary disposable cameras donated by new mentor, Shelly Nguyen, and her employer Bank of America. Youth volunteers from YES’ Latino HEAT program helped guide the event.

It is the ninth year the firefighters have supported YES youth with school supplies, and it’s the largest gift the foundation makes. The foundation spared no expense and invested in high quality backpacks. One mother commented on the durability: “They will take the kids through the whole school year!”

Most of the 60 youth and their siblings are part of the YES Success Mentoring program which matches youth from single parent households with adults who want to make a positive impact in their lives. Other beneficiaries of the backpacks included teens from YES prevention and education programs in schools, and community centers.

“Having new backpacks and supplies before school starts positively impacts the kids’ self-esteem and sets the stage for more engagement in school,” says Mary Erickson, the success mentor coordinator at YES. She adds that the Success Mentoring Program is always in need of additional volunteers to serve as mentors. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can learn more by calling YES at 425-747-4937 or visiting youtheastsideservices.org.