The Promise of Hope
Hope has looked like the promise of a hot meal in drop-in, clean socks, a housing opportunity, a listening ear, or a bus pass amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that continues to impact how we all live and interact. This hope permeates everything and everyone SYM encounters: youth, staff, volunteers, and community partners in the University District neighborhood. Your support this year has allowed SYM to be a consistent beacon of hope to young people in this neighborhood. Take a look at what else your support has allowed us to do this year!
As 2021 comes to a close, I am reminded of all that the past 2 years has meant for each of us. It has been difficult. The missed milestone events, distance from family and friends and loss has been exhausting amid ever-changing protocols and constant risk assessment.
Young people with already unpredictable lives navigated further complexity with the closure of public restrooms, coffee shops with indoor seating, and social services. SYM's own volunteers needed to stay at home for their own safety.
SYM staff have sought to meet the unique needs of these unhoused young people with tenacity, compassion and care. As restrictions and knowledge of COVID risks changed, so did the services of SYM. From a distance, I saw SYM initiate the mobile outreach program that took supplies and food to encampments during the time that drop-in was closed. When drop-in reopened, a breakfast program ran for 4 months to continue to reach out to those who were unhoused.
I joined SYM as Executive Director in September. It was soon time to move to a new COVID response protocol and welcome volunteers back to Drop-In. SYM staff, volunteers and young people are enjoying outings to Whirlyball, Woodland Park Zoo and Paint the Town.
SYM staff, volunteers and supporters have held hope for each person over the last two years under ever-changing, difficult and exhausting conditions. Each of our lives has been changed by the pandemic. And each of us holds the hope that those that were particularly impacted, unhoused young people, will continue to seek assistance and community – to search for a job, to find housing, to build relationships with people who care about them deeply.
Act justly,
Love mercy,
Walk Humbly with your God.
- Micah 6:8
Rita Buyco, Executive Director
As we end 2021, would you consider a gift to SYM?
Your donation could be used to provide rental assistance for a month for a young person, or to fill up a bus pass to be able to get someone to work. This Advent season, may you be encouraged by how your generosity has helped us bring hope into the lives of so many here at SYM.
To mail a gift:
Street Youth Ministries
4540 15th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105
