Highland Terrace Elementary students raise more than $6,500 for Hopelink

Highland Terrace Elementary School Principal Mike VanOrden and Student Council members present a check for $6,586.25 to Leslie Brooks, Shoreline Center Manager for Hopelink. Photo by Frank Kleyn.

The 360 students at Highland Terrace Elementary School in Shoreline may be young, but they are already making a significant difference in their community.

On May 19, the students held a walkathon fundraiser for Hopelink that collected $6,586.25 for the Redmond-based nonprofit -- the largest amount of money ever raised by an elementary school for the agency's annual "End Summer Hunger" drive.

Student Council members and Highland Terrace Elementary School Principal Mike VanOrden presented the check to Hopelink’'s Leslie Brooks during an end-of-year assembly Friday, June 17 at the school.

Student council members say they chose Hopelink because of the direct services the agency provides to families in the Shoreline area, and as a result of their efforts, more families will receive the help they need to get back on their feet.

Hopelink’'s Shoreline Center Manager Leslie Brooks said the summer months can be a particularly challenging time for families who are already struggling to make ends meet. 

“School lunches are often the most nutritious meal of the day for children in low-income families,” Brooks said. "“When school is out for the summer, we see a lot more people asking for help in filling that need – families who are already squeezing every penny out of their budgets.”"

The money raised will help Hopelink address the higher summer demand on its food banks, when the additional food needed by families with children on summer break costs about $13 per child for a two-week period.

The Shoreline Hopelink is one of five Hopelink locations in north and east King County which help children, seniors and people with disabilities by providing food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County. Hopelink promotes self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helps people make lasting change by assisting people to meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. More information on Hopelink and its services, 425-869-6000.