Sometimes the strongest support systems start with a single request. This fall, Bellevue High School opened a satellite office of the Bellevue School District Family Connections Center, a space created to support students and families who need help with day‑to‑day essentials. The office is staffed by social worker Gina Kinan, who previously worked on the district’s Mental Health Assistance Team. She splits her time between Bellevue High School’s campus and Chinook Middle School. Throughout the school day she meets with students, checks in on families, and tries to use her limited district resources to fill the gaps that often go unseen. 

At the start of the year, Gina reached out to PTSA grants chair Dana Gribble. She had students facing housing insecurity who needed basic necessities. Dana knew the formal grant process would take too long, so she did the most efficient thing she could think of. She grabbed her phone. One group text later, funds began pouring in. By the end of the day, she had raised $7,000. That quick act of generosity turned into something larger than anyone expected.

For the school year this year, Dana, her daughter Riley, and mother-daughter volunteers Jenna and Parker Rensch have been stocking and organizing a growing resource room for students. What started as a one‑time response is now a steady supply of items kids need to get through the school day with dignity and comfort. There are snacks, toiletries, warm coats, school supplies, blankets, and new or gently used clothing. When the team asked Parker and Riley what other items students their age might appreciate, the list expanded to include curling irons, shampoo and conditioner, and jackets that were both warm and stylish. They also chose to purchase gift cards to local restaurants, walkable from campus, so that their classmates could enjoy the normalcy of having lunch off campus with their peers.  

Riley brings a thoughtful perspective. “We wanted it to feel like a place people our age actually want to visit. I’ve added things I love; extra stuff that’s not just about need, but about joy too.” Parker agrees. “I’ve donated my favorite Sephora items because I want other girls my age to have things that help them feel good.” The support has already reached far beyond the school walls. One family, facing significant hardship, received emergency funding that kept them sheltered. Bellevue LifeSpring stepped in with food vouchers, and BHS parents have filled in the gaps with gift cards and prepaid American Express cards. Over time, the resource room has grown to include shoes, calculators, and other items that are considered standard for many students but may feel impossible to access by others. Some families come by to pick up food for the week. Others just stop in for a quiet moment.  

Dana explains her approach simply. “I like to call this my double down era. When I go to Costco for my family, I just buy two of everything and bring one here. It makes it easy to make an impact while I'm just doing things I normally do throughout my day,”  she explains. She and Riley are very focused on creating a sustainability plan so that this resource continues to be available to all Bellevue High students for many years to come. This requires recruiting younger students and parents to step up and connect with BHS students’ needs the way Riley and Parker have. They are certain that once their peers understand the hidden struggles of their friends and classmates, they will jump at the chance to help as well. 

Over the holidays, the team planned a giving tree and worked to fulfill wish lists for families navigating inflation and changing aid. In January and February, the resource room will expand again, offering TOLO & prom outfits, and other small touches that help students feel included. “This is unique to Bellevue High and reflects exactly what we want our school community to be--a place where students feel seen and supported,” Principal Vic Anderson says. “I’ve shared with my principal colleagues across the district, and they are all interested in doing something similar at their schools.” 

Even the school district is paying attention. Ricardo Macias, District Director of the Welcome Center and Community Outreach, is keeping an eye on the BHS model and considering how it might serve as a framework for other Bellevue schools. In the meantime, the work at BHS continues with a few Costco extras, donated clothing, and extra snacks from parent volunteers. As Jenna puts it, “Many hands make light work.” One small moment of care at a time. That’s how communities are built. Not all at once, but through steady effort and the belief that no one should have to face the day alone.  

If you would like to learn more about the Family Connections Center or help further the cause, please contact: Dana Gribble at danagribble@gmail.com