As you are aware, King County has been significantly impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our hearts go out to those personally affected, and particularly to families who have lost a loved one.

The safety and wellbeing of our staff, youth, and community members are of paramount importance to YouthCare. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation and working with the Seattle & King County Department of Public Health to inform any changes to YouthCare programming, services, and community events. At this time, our services remain open for young people and we are following all recommended precautions to ensure staff and young people remain safe and healthy in our spaces.

In the midst of this outbreak, we want to remind everyone that a person’s ethnicity, language, or association with a country or region does not mean they carry the virus. Anyone can transmit or become infected. Let’s continue to support one another and avoid the spread of stigma, discrimination, and fear.

See below for updates on YouthCare’s services and community events in response to COVID-19.

Annual Luncheon

To ensure our community stays safe and healthy, YouthCare’s annual luncheon is scheduled virtually for Friday, October 9, 2020. If you already registered, please watch your inbox for emailed updates. If not, register here and join us for a virtual lunch of hope and inspiration in the fall. If you have any questions, send an email to events@youthcare.org.

We’re looking forward to sharing stories of YouthCare alumni in the fall! In the meantime, and particularly during this time of urgency, we will continue to serve young people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each year, our luncheon changes the lives of youth experiencing homelessness and drives a significant portion of YouthCare’s annual fundraising to support our programs. A gift today reflects your commitment to young people’s potential and honors the tenacity of our staff, who remain focused on providing excellent service despite the current uncertainty and challenge.

Volunteers

We have decided to put a temporary hold on all volunteer activities at YouthCare. Please know we did not make this decision lightly, as we fully depend on and appreciate our volunteers. However, we feel it is the right decision for YouthCare to help prioritize the wellness of our youth, staff, and volunteers.

In the meantime, feel free to fill out a volunteer application to express your interest, and we will be in touch once volunteerism is up and running again at YouthCare. Please direct any questions you have to volunteer@youthcare.org. Thanks again!

Donations

We are not currently accepting used items.

We appreciate that our community is always thinking of ways to help youth experiencing homelessness. Due to health concerns, storage space, and staff capacity, we are only able to accept needed items that are new.

Can you support the health and wellness of the youth we serve?

As we respond to COVID-19 and head into our regular flu season, we are short on supplies to help young people be safe and healthy. Can you help us collect needed items below? You can also donate directly from our Amazon wish list—items will be shipped directly to us!

Most emergent needs:

  • Hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes (regular or travel-sized)
  • Disinfecting wipes or other cleaning supplies
  • Non-medicated cough drops, vitamin c, or immuntity boosters like Emergen-C

Unopened, shelf-stable food:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Soup and pasta (i.e. chicken noodle soup, Chef Boyardee, ramen noodles, etc.)
  • Protein-rich food and snacks (i.e. granola bars, trail mix, beef jerky, nut butter, canned tuna.)
  • Juice and tea
  • Soup and pasta (i.e. chicken noodle soup, Chef Boyardee, ramen noodles, etc.

Items can be delivered to YouthCare’s main office Monday-Friday 9am-5pm to 2500 NE 54th St., Seattle, WA 98105. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity to pick up items at this time.

Helpful resources to make sure you and your loved ones stay safe:

General recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health:

  1. Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
  2. Stay home when you’re sick.
  3. If you are sick and wondering what to do, call your healthcare provider before you go to a clinic or emergency room.
  4. Show compassion and support for individuals and communities most closely impacted and anyone who might be sick.
  5. Learn and be prepared: Visit the WA Department of Health resource page.

Additional resources:

This page will be updated as needed. Please check back for new information.