“We owe it to our kids in the Snoqualmie Valley to provide a vibrant, green and growing place to grow up,” said Kevin Haggerty.

Haggerty, a Valley resident, was one of the speakers at the first annual Snoqualmie Valley Youth and Family Services Fundraising Breakfast, held Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Snoqualmie Elementary School.

“We are a community that cares about each other, and yet, in our own community, many young people suffer from the ravages of feeling they don’t belong,” he said, discussing the role that counseling plays in promoting positive outcomes for children and young people in school and life. With an increasing number of young people contemplating suicide, the need for counseling is becoming of great importance, says Haggerty.

More than 50 people attended the event, where client Linda Robertson also spoke to attendees, as each of her three sons utilized Friends of Youth’s services in Snoqualmie. “Having the support of Friends of Youth has been instrumental in my confidence,” she said. “It’s crucial to keep their resources available to continuing generations of families.”

The need for Friends of Youth’s counseling services is increasing, as waiting lists are growing for students who need these services. Counselors provide help to young people who experience depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties and substance abuse – primarily alcohol and marijuana. The money raised at the breakfast will help Friends of Youth continue its support of youth and families in the Snoqualmie valley.

For information, visit www.friendsofyouth.org.