Neighbor Link urges communities to dream altruistically | update

Two open house events next week will showcase a program aimed at turning do-gooder dreams into reality.

The city of Bellevue's Neighbor Link initiative helps residents and community groups implement public service projects with planning assistance.

The city also gives each participating neighborhood a "party starter" kit with resources for a celebration.

Information about the program, now in it's second year, will be available at the open house events, sponsored in part by the Bellevue Reporter.

The gatherings take place March 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and March 18, 5-8 p.m. in the Neighborhood Resource Center at City Hall (450 110th Ave. NE).

Past community service projects have included bake sales, garage sales, and benefit concerts.

"A lot of the projects are recession-related," said Bellevue Neighborhood Outreach manager Cheryl Kuhn.

Virtually any altruistic project qualifies for assistance, whether its a food drive, sponsoring a child for summer camp, or weeding an elderly person's yard.

Neighbor Link organizer Julie Ellenhorn says residents should just identify needs in their community and ask for help putting together a plan.

The city council has approved a budget of $25,000 per year to assist with the projects.

Rob Pucher, of Mockingbird Hill, organized a food drive with his son Collin last year.

"Giving food to those in need created a strong feeling of togetherness in our community," Pucher said.

A city-sponsored picnic dinner and concert will take place Sept. 11 to celebrate the year's accomplishments, and the city council will recognize some of the groups with awards.

Last year, Neighbor Link supported the annual Newport Hills Fourth of July festival.

The city helped keep that event alive by providing entertainment and party supplies when the community undertook a neighborhood charitable drive.

Neighbor Link is placing extra emphasis this year on youth involvement to help high school students earn community service credits for graduation.

Ellenhorn said she hopes the program will grow to enormous proportions that way.

"I'm trying to create a monster," she said.

Contact Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Joshua Adam Hicks at jhicks@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4290.

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