Adorning a reindeer headband and holiday cheer, Adopt-a-Family Chairman Marilyn Herzberg helped wrap, organize, and deliver donated gifts to Bellevue families at Overlake Service League’s distribution event on Wednesday.
Herzberg worked along side volunteers as they sorted more than 1,000 gifts at the distribution center, a donated space at Bellevue Christian Church overflowing with holiday gifts.
Each familly receiving the gifts applied for the Adopt-a-Family program at Overlake Service League, and if chosen, created a wish list for each member of the family.
Gifts were donated by individuals, families, groups and businesses.
“Not only did Overlake Service League match hundreds of families with a sponsor, but numerous businesses partnered with us and set up giving trees so their employees and customers could participate in the Adopt-A-Family Program,” said Trish Carpenter, Overlake Service League President.
Partnering businesses included The Bellevue Collection, Z’Tejas, the Westin, Pearl and Intelius.
“This event gets bigger and bigger every year,” said Cheryl Wroth Stein, an Overlake Service League board member. “The generosity of our community is truly astounding.”
Generous gifts donated by the community included a brand new keyboard piano, 200 new bikes, winter clothes, video games, costume jewelry, books and stuffed animals.
Overlake Service League’s Adopt–A-Family program has been serving the Bellevue community for over 35 years. Needy families are interviewed, selected and then matched with sponsors who provide food and gifts to their adopted family during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We know it isn’t a solution to their problems, but it does lift their spirit, gives a bright spot of hope and shows these families that they aren’t alone, that people care about them,” said Herzberg, as she double checked each family’s gift list, making sure all the requests were accounted for. “The need this year has been overwhelming, but the response and kindness from the community and our volunteers has been tremendous.”
To learn more about Overlake Service League, visit www.overlakeserviceleague.com
