By Christina Joo
Throughout the year, but especially during the winter, the cold dominates the Bellevue area. Even in our prosperous city, one of the most pressing issues is the lack of clothing. Without proper clothing, families will suffer through the winter season. Thankfully, teens from Bellevue are here to help!
The partnership between Plato’s Closet, a local consignment shop, and the Bellevue Youth Council, a group of teens representing youth in Bellevue, started in 1990 and has thrived ever since. Every week, nearly 1,500 to 2,000 items are donated to Plato’s for families in need. The relationship is simple: teens from the Bellevue Youth Council collect the clothes and Plato’s distributes them to people who need them. At donation events, donors from all over the community donate bags of clothing that are then distributed to dozens of families in need. Furthermore, the families are allowed to choose the clothes they want and need at no cost! If you would like to help, please visit Plato’s Closet at 14125 NE 20th St. Bellevue, WA 98007.