North Coast Electric Company

NCE's Corporate Support sent another group of Associates interested in volunteering their time & energy to prepare and serve lunch at YouthCare's Orion Center in Seattle. For a very short while, the kids got to feel what it was like to be a regular kid by hanging out with their peers and feasting on pizza, salad, and fruit! Their reality sets in quickly when they leave the comfort of the shelter and go back on the street. With the cold and wet season nearing, comfort food and warm clothing will be in high demand for these kids.

The Orion Center is a multi-service facility open to youth ages 13 to 24 and 4,500 youth accessed services in 2010. They offer a safe place for youth to access a variety of services from meals to case management. In 2010, 20,000 meals were provided. They also offer hygiene resources, lockers, clothing, and first aid. Their street Outreach Team makes contact with over 10,000 homeless young people each year providing food, water, and information about resources that can help them transition to more stable safe lifestyles.

While knowing there are homeless children in the world is heartbreaking, another 60 kids didn’t go without lunch that day!  Volunteer, Jennifer L. later reflected: “It was a great and eye opening experience to help out at the Orion Center.  There are so many youth in our community that are in need of help and I was glad to be a part of it.”  Thank you Ron, Jennifer B, Theresa, Denise, Norlyn, Jean, & Jennifer L for volunteering your time, talent, & energy!

Here’s how you can help the Orion Center: They are desperate for volunteers to provide and prepare meals; lunch or dinner. Lunch in particular. With cold and wet weather coming, comfort food and warm clothing is needed and much appreciated.

To learn more about YouthCare, to volunteer, or donate, visit their website at www.youthcare.org.