Our Police and Fire Departments do more than catch criminals and extinguish fires. They also respond to calls that require mental health support to make our island a more caring and safer community. The MIYFS Geriatric specialist works with Police and Fire to identify where intervention is needed to transition persons to a safer living environment and craft a support plan to provide mental health treatment referrals and logistical support.
FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Serving families that need a little extra help. Like paying for basics such as food, rent, childcare and utilities. Families and individuals in every community fall on hard times, often due to a death or major illness in the family, divorce or loss of employment. The family assistance program helps these people during periods of crisis to take care of basic needs and keep the household stable until the crisis passes.
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HOLIDAY AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Helping families with school supplies and holiday gifts for their kids. And other things like Child Care and Summer Camp Scholarships, and Resource and Referral Services. In a generally affluent community, families facing economic stress also face social stress. Children feel socially isolated if they are not able to afford field trip fees supplies or any after school activities. MIYFS helps kids feel like they belong by easing financial disruption.
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FOOD PANTRY
The Luther Burbank Administrative Building is closed to the public and staff due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the City’s Food Pantry was re-located to the nearby Community and Event Center (8236 SE 24th Street). Food Pantry hours are Wednesdays 10am – 3pm.
The MIYFS Pantry has shifted operations to offer only grocery store gift cards.
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POLICE AND FIRE COLLABORATION
Our Impact
1739
families /individuals visited food pantry. 116 families received rent/utility assistance
88
scholarships provided for preschool, camps and after-school
274
families received YFS Emergency Assistance
360
holidays gifts and meals for low-income families
Frequently Asked Questions
MIYFS has served Island residents since 1973. It became a City Department in 1976. In 1989, the MIYFS Foundation was established to raise private funding to augment the services funded by the City of Mercer Island.
MIYFS Foundation funding is critical to the breadth and quality of services MIYFS can deliver. It provided about 10% of the funding for the MIYFS social services operating budget in 2018, as well as special project funding in the amount of $119,165.
MIYFS supports residents aged 0 to 100+. From providing baby formula and diapers to economically struggling families, to preschool scholarships, to programs and support for school age and college kids, adults and our most senior citizens, MIYFS serves from cradle to grave.
As of March 19, 2020: The MIYFS Food Pantry is no longer accepting food donations. As a replacement, individuals may drop off food cards to the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. More information can be found here.
Non-perishable food and household goods (laundry detergent, feminine products) of all sorts are accepted. High demand items are canned meat, beans, pasta, rice, peanut butter, cereal, kids lunch food and snacks.
In July, please contact Cheryl Manriquez at 206-275-7869 for needed items and timeline for delivery.
In September, please contact Cheryl Manriquez at 206-275-7869 for needed items and timeline for delivery.
