The YMCAs on the Eastside will host a backpack and school supply drive to help local youth in need. The event will be held Aug. 5-23 at the Coal Creek, Bellevue and Lake Heights YMCA locations.

The drive is in memory of Nicole Lehtinen, a foster youth who died in an auto accident at age 16.After her father died, 6-year-old Nicole became a foster child when her mother could no longer care for her. As she entered foster care, all she had from home was her backpack.

According to Treehouse, a Seattle nonprofit that provides essentials as well as academic support for foster youth, there are between 1,300 to 1,500 children in foster care on any given day in King County. This will be the fifth year of the backpack drive honoring Nicole.

The Y will distribute the backpacks to local nonprofit organizations that support foster children and other youth in need.

The Coal Creek YMCA is located at 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, Newcastle, the Bellevue YMCA is located at 14230 Bel-Red Road, and the Lake Heights YMCA is located at 12635 SE 56th St., Bellevue.