COVID-19 and the Delta variant continue to cast terrible shadows on our families and neighborhoods, on our businesses and our way of life. However, this terrible pandemic certainly does not extinguish the glowing light of kindness and generosity that continues to shine in Bellevue and the Eastside.

During this difficult year, I am inspired daily by the selfless examples of the residents of Bellevue and the new generational and cutting edge businesses that are helping to operate and support our incredible nonprofits, charities, foundations and various services. , arts and community groups.

These groups are dedicated to helping those in difficulty or improving the community through the arts, music, history, celebration, events and culture. Or the dedicated people who build and represent our local business community – not to mention those who help care for the beautiful parks, streams and lakes we love so much. This collective philosophy makes our wonderful and diverse city a truly special place to live, work, create and play for generations to come.

The national “Giving Tuesday” initiative takes place on November 30. To learn more, visit www.givingtuesday.org.

As someone whose family has lived in Bellevue since the 1930s, I can’t help but interact with, partner, donate, help promote and be enriched by so many of these. wonderful non-profit organizations. As the second year of this pandemic approaches, some are doing well, but some are struggling. As we look at the rest of the year and the holiday season, don’t forget to try to help or donate, volunteer, date or join them. Just off the top of my head, here are a few by category. If I miss any, do not hesitate to contact me and tell me about your group.

Community service and fraternal service / social groups: The Bellevue Rotary Club and Morning Brother, the Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue, the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club and the Eastside Masonic Center.

Business: Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Bellevue Downtown Association, Leadership Eastside, One Eastside, and Old Bellevue Merchants Association.

Story: Connect the various groups and families who built Bellevue in our past with those who will keep this heritage alive in the future: The Eastside Heritage Center.

Music and arts: PACE / Performing Arts Center of the Eastside (formerly Tateuchi Center), Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue Arts Commission, Music Works NW, Cascadian Chorale, Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, Village Theater & KIDSTAGE and Kid’sQuest Children’s Museum.

General services, seniors and children: The amazing people of Bellevue Lifespring (formerly Overlake Service League), Youth Eastside Services (YES), Eastside Baby Corner, Hopelink, Friends of Youth, Habitat for Humanity, Sophia Way, Jubilee REACH, Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) and Encompass.

Military veterans: The Foreign War Veterans Hall and American Legion posts nearby.

Nature, outdoors and sports: Bridle Trails Park Foundation, Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park, Save Lake Sammamish, Trouts Unlimited, volunteering at Bellevue Parks and Recreation and Bellevue Botanical Gardens, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, and finally, Mountain to Solide Greenway Trust . There’s also just about every sport imaginable represented: Little League, swim clubs, bike clubs, golf, sailing, kayaking, basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, lacrosse and fencing.

Culture and health: Bellevue Sister Cities Association and Overlake Hospital Foundation.

Education and Literature: Bellevue Schools Foundation, Bellevue PTSA, King County Library Foundation, Bellevue College Foundation. Not to mention dozens of scholarship funds and group boosters / clubs etc. Plus the Humane Society of King County and many other groups focused on horses, dogs and cats), several neighborhood and community clubs, groups dedicated to our local libraries, and dozens of churches / ministerial and international groups / cultural representatives representing every nation around the world.

You can check out all nonprofits, 501 C-3s, and state charities on the Washington Secretary of State’s website. Go to Business Search (most nonprofits) and Charity / Fundraising / Trust Search at http://ccfs.sos.wa.gov.

In this holiday season so different and a hopefully better new year, I urge you to donate time, treasure, kindness, goods, voice, talent and wisdom or even a simple thank you to these groups and others in Bellevue. Each in their own way, they are dedicated to inspiring, uplifting us, making us active, connected, educated, and helping people heal while sowing joy and peace.

On November 30, let’s help give them wings.

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William Shaw is Managing Director of the Bellevue Reporter. Contact [email protected] or 425-453-2710.