Readers' gifts provide food, clothes, healing

The "dollars" part of the story is the easiest to tell. Last year, readers contributed $546,000 to The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy, bringing the total raised to $10,687,000 since the fund was created in 1979.

But the real meaning of the fund lies in the almost infinite variety of services, necessities, good works, safe havens and opportunities for healing and growth provided by the agencies receiving those funds.

"It's very affirming and uplifting in terms of the human spirit, and a real testament to the generosity of our community," said Will Blethen, Times treasurer and president of the fund. The theme of this season's drive is "Bringing hope and a better life."

At Senior Services, which has received more than $3 million over the life of the fund, Executive Director Denise Klein said the money has allowed it to continue its Meals on Wheels program without placing needy seniors on a waiting list. "Many programs across the state and the nation ... have had to severely restrict service due to waning government funding. But we have been able to count on The Times Fund for the Needy."

This year, in recognition of the high and rising incidence of autistic children in our area, ASTAR (Autism Spectrum Treatment and Research) has been added to the agencies receiving money.

Last year, the fund helped support the following services:

The Salvation Army: 70,000 nights of lodging for homeless men, women and children; 96,000 food bags or grocery vouchers for the hungry; holiday gifts and toys to 22,067 children, families and seniors; rent assistance for 1,500 households; and help for more than 300 women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Senior Services: 767,099 meals for senior citizens through King County; 3,732 home repairs for low-income seniors and disabled residents; transportation for more than 4,800 seniors to doctor's appointments and other destinations.

Childhaven: 23,832 hours of care to 43 drug-affected infants, helped place 178 children in safe environments and responded to 1,175 Crisis Line calls.

Hopelink: 12,000 people in North and East King County helped through Emergency Services and Family Development Programs, including food banks and financial, shelter and utility assistance. It also provided classes and training in life skills, job readiness and literacy.

Family Services: More than 34,000 hours of care to homeless toddlers and preschoolers; more than 1,200 children, most under 5, given clothing, diapers or safety equipment (car seats, high chairs, strollers), provided intervention services to 200 men with the goal of changing patterns of abusive behavior.

Deaconess Children's Services: Helped more than 120 Snohomish County parents and 100 children in the Teen Parent Advocacy Program and 300 parents and children through its interactive parenting program. Elements of the programs include skills development, peer support, advocacy and connecting families to vital resources.

Atlantic Street Center: Helped approximately 600 children and youth in the Youth Development Program, including tutoring and academic support, summer school, vocational exploration, social and recreational outings, and skill-building sessions.

Youth Eastside Services: More than 36,000 children and family members were helped through efforts including counseling, mentoring, substance-abuse treatment and violence-prevention services.

Treehouse: Served nearly 3,000 foster youth, many suffering the effects of abuse and neglect. Provided tutoring and opportunities such as sports, music and dance lessons. More than 700 holiday-season visits to its Wearhouse for clothing, toys and school supplies.

Asian Counseling & Referral Service: More than 45,000 hot meals to Asian Pacific Islander elders; services such as exercise classes and English-as-a-second-language lessons; help for 1,300 youth and their parents with services promoting self-esteem, leadership, cultural-identity development, conflict resolution and prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Kindering Center: Helped more than 2,000 infants and children with physical, occupational and speech therapies; special education; family mental-health therapies; feeding and nutrition assistance.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: 35 at-risk youth supported in one-to-one mentoring relationships, including more than 2,300 hours of academic and social guidance.

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com