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Category #BestofBellevue   Show all

  • Best of Bellevue

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    The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on individuals, organizations and businesses in Bellevue and our region, yet we are continually uplifted by the generosity, innovation and supportive spirit of our community. These actions––both big and small––should be shared and celebrated. Help us highlight the Best of Bellevue by adding others who are stepping up to the challenge in this time of need. You can add more inspiring actions using the Stories of Encouragement tab.

    #BestofBellevue


  • Best of Bellevue: Supporting Our Small Business Community

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    SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY

    Some of our larger businesses have the ability and technology tools to assist smaller businesses that have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. We are heartened to see the peer support in our business community. This support shows an important recognition that a diverse business community is critical to the resiliency of our entire community.

    Amazon

    Amazon has established a Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund, which will provide assistance for small businesses with a physical presence near Amazon's buildings in South Lake Union and/or downtown Bellevue. Amazon has more than 2,000 employees in Bellevue.

    Facebook

    Facebook has established a Small Business Grants Program to assist businesses in addressing the impacts of COVID-19, and is actively pushing information to local businesses through its push-notification system. Facebook recently joined the Bellevue community with offices downtown, and will be moving into a new office in the Spring District soon.

    Microsoft

    Microsoft has taken a comprehensive approach to its COVID-19 response. In addition to efforts to support its employees and contractors, it has contributed $1 million to the regional COVID-19 response effort led by the Seattle Foundation. Microsoft has more than 8,500 employees in Bellevue.

    Symetra

    Symetra’s Care and Feeding Program partners with locally owned restaurants to make and deliver 10,000 meals to homeless shelters and hospitals. Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company based in downtown Bellevue.

    Puget Sound Energy

    Bellevue based Puget Sound Energy is making $11 million in funds available to help who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through its Crisis-Affected Customer Assistance Program (CACAP).

    Republic Services

    Republic Services launched “Committed to Serve” a $20 Million Initiative to recognize their 28,000 frontline employees in the field who are serving customers every day, while also helping to support small business customers and communities across the nation. Republic Services provides gift cards and meals to employees and their families that are purchased from local, small businesses. Additionally, Republic Services is donating $3 million to their charitable foundation to fund long-term nonprofit partners that are working to rebuild, revitalize and restore the places where we live and work.

    Salesforce

    Salesforce has established a $5 million small business grant fund. The Salesforce Care Small Business Grant program offers $10,000 grants to U.S. small businesses to provide capital to help them weather the COVID-19 crisis. The Washington State application period opens April 27 and closes May 4. Learn more. Salesforce has a large office presence in Bellevue.

    Verizon

    Verizon has pledged $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a non-profit that will use Verizon funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19. Verizon will unlock an additional $2.5 million as viewers use the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE and tag their local businesses, bringing the total donation up to $5 million. Verizon’s regional headquarters is located in Bellevue.

    Zeacon

    Zeacon, a Bellevue based app company that provides unique event and experiences has pivoted their business model to support local businesses with the Creation of Zeacon Boxes. Zeacon Boxes provide a safe and innovative way for individuals to continue supporting their favorite businesses without leaving home. Each box is hand-curated in partnership with businesses in the Greater Seattle Area. Boxes include culinary experiences, hands-on art projects, innovative indoor fun, and more.

  • Best of Bellevue: Protecting Our Healthcare Heroes

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    PROTECTING OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES

    Many local organizations and companies are assisting our local first responders, healthcare workers, and front-line employees. We are thrilled by the diversity and creativity demonstrated in these companies’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Sturtevant’s Sports

    Sturtevant’s Bellevue store is a drop off location for the “Goggles for Docs” program. Goggles for Docs is an effort to get used or new ski goggles into the hands of healthcare workers who currently have no eye protection as they treat COVID-19 patients. All gear should be wiped down and placed into a sealed Ziploc bag and placed in the drop-off bin at the Bellevue Sturtevant’s location at 13131 NE 20th Street.

    Global Innovation Exchange (GIX)

    To provide immediate relief for the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the UW Medicine hospital system, the Global Innovation Exchange is producing low-cost, reusable face shields at the GIX Makerspace. This facility has the capacity to produce at least 40 face shields per day. The GIX team is also testing production of a facemask and will eventually prototype and produce gowns, aerosol boxes, and ventilator valves. GIX is located in Bellevue’s Spring District and is a partnership between the University of Washington and China’s Tsinghua University.

    Eddie Bauer

    Outdoor outfitter Eddie Bauer is producing and donating at least 20,000 surgical and N95 masks to local healthcare facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Eddie Bauer’s headquarters is in downtown Bellevue.

    Glassybaby - Donations to hospital worker relief efforts

    Glassybaby was founded with giving in mind. Starting on April 15, 2020 $10 from every glassybaby purchased will be donated to the white light fund and support hospital worker relief efforts and food banks supporting our communities. Glassybaby has a store on Main Street in Downtown Bellevue.

    REI Co-op

    REI has granted $100,000 to the 100 Million Mask Challenge. The 100 Million Mask Challenge is a nationwide effort to produce and deliver much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) on a large scale for our health care heroes. REI headquarters is moving to Bellevue in 2020.

  • Best of Bellevue: Coffee For A Cause

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    COFFEE FOR A CAUSE

    Many local coffee shops remain open for takeout and delivery, and many roasters are offering online whole-bean coffee orders. Here are some that are going the extra mile with special blends and free coffee for healthcare workers.

    Café Cesura

    Café Cesura is producing a “Bellevue Relief Blend” that can be purchased for donation to Congregations for the Homeless, which operates the Eastside Men’s Shelter. Additionally, Café Cesura has now sells products from displaced farmers’ market vendors, such as flowers and Bow Hill blueberry juice. Café Cesura is located on Old Main in downtown Bellevue.


    The Waffler

    The Waffler is offering free coffee for healthcare works and first responders. The Waffler is located in the Lake Hills neighborhood.


    Woods Coffee

    Woods Coffee is accepting donations to deliver coffee to healthcare workers through its “Coffee for Caregivers” Fund. Woods Coffee has two locations in Bellevue, including in the Wilburton neighborhood.



    Bellden Café – Be a Hero

    In addition to your coffee, toast and bowls, now through Bellden Café’s online ordering you can select to Be a Hero and donate to Support COVID-19 Frontline Workers and buy flowers from displaced farmer market vendors. Bellden Cafe has donated 600 PPE masks with coffee, cookies and a cash donation to Overlake Medical Center. Bellden Café is located on Main Street in Downtown Bellevue.

    Dote Coffee Bar

    Dote Coffee Bar located in Lincoln Square has started Project Dote to provide coffee and brownies to the essential workers who are working hard to keep us safe including at Overlake Hospital and Bellevue City Hall Police and Fire.


  • Best of Bellevue: Food For Good

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    FOOD FOR GOOD

    Many restaurants and cafés remain open for takeout and delivery through the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are supporting our local community in myriad ways.

    Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Washington State - Food with Love

    The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Washington State (CCCWA) and local restaurants have teamed up to help Frontline Workers Fight COVID-19. The Food with Love campaign aims to raise $400,000 to produce 30,000 lunches for medical staff, community first respondents and community members in need of assistance. So far 7,195 lunches have been provided to frontline workers including staff at Overlake Medical Center and the Bellevue Police Department. Participating Bellevue restaurants include; The Dolar Shop, Asian Family Market, Frying Fish and Liuyishou Hot Pot. CCCWA is headquartered in Bellevue.

    RestaurantsforResponders.org

    Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club launched RestaurantsforResponders.org, a program designed to provide immediate support to our community's healthcare workers, local restaurants, and employees. The program will purchase meals from local restaurants and provide them to overworked local responders and healthcare workers, getting food to essential workers and financial support to local restaurants. The Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club has committed to donating up to $30,000 to kick off its RestaurantsforResponders.org program by matching your tax-deductible donations dollar-for-dollar.

    Trophy Cupcakes

    Trophy Cupcakes is spreading joy with their Pay It Forward campaign. The program allows you to purchase cupcakes for Trophy to deliver directly to a non-profit partner! Trophy is located in the Bravern in downtown Bellevue.



    Bellevue Collection

    Every time you order take-out from a Bellevue Collection restaurant now through April 24, The Bellevue Collection will donate two meals to Bellevue LifeSpring's emergency response program, which feeds children in our community.


    Central Bar and Restaurant

    Central Bar and Restaurant has created a way to help your favorite organization, healthcare workers, or families in need. Donate at least eight meals off the Central Bar and Restaurant main menu (for lunch or dinner) and Central will donate two additional meals for free and will deliver on your behalf. Central Bar and Restaurant is located in Lincoln Square in downtown Bellevue.


    Washington Food Truck Association - Partnership with Nourishing Networks

    The Washington State Food Truck Association has partnered with Nourishing Networks, to provide a voucher meal food truck program. Printed meal vouchers are distributed to local non-profits, or to individuals and families in need of food support.

    Chace's Pancake Corral

    Chace's Pancake Corral has been busy packing and delivering lunches to Overlake Hospital Caregivers.


  • Best of Bellevue: Community Content Deliverers

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    COMMUNITY CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS

    While local museums and libraries are closed due to social distancing guidelines, they continue to provide educational and enriching content for local kids, plus great online resources for adults.

    KidsQuest Children's Museum

    KidsQuest Children's Museum has launched a YouTube channel called HomeQuest. The channel allows staff to provide virtual Story Time, plus early- and school-age learning videos focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts for children age 0-10. A new video drops each weekday. Subscribe to get the latest Story Time and HomeQuest videos delivered to your inbox. KidsQuest is located in downtown Bellevue.


    Bellevue Arts Museum

    Bellevue Arts Museum is delivering take-home craft activity kits to the Bellevue School District’s Grab and Go Meal and Childcare Program sites. The kits include instructions and materials for little artists to make their own jolly jellyfish hat. Additional tutorials for creating masterpieces using common household items can be found through @BellevueArts on Instagram Bellevue Arts Museum is located in downtown Bellevue.