The Hope Festival helped changed the lives of 800 individuals in-need families from five Eastside cities on Feb. 25 at the Bellevue Highland Community Center.

The festival is an annual single-day event that serves hundreds of local in-need families and individuals. No background checks were required for guests — the Hopefest team welcomed anyone who wished to visit the event. Every guest who attended Hopefest was able bring home life necessities such as clothing, groceries and hygiene supplies. Also available to those who came to the festival were refreshments, books, free haircuts, massages and toys for kids.

The festival, along with the Hope Festival 501c3 nonprofit organization, is managed and run by local youth. About 250 volunteers were pivotal in making sure guests walked out of the event feeling more content, empowered and loved than when they walked in.

Costumed characters mingled throughout the facility, brightening each child’s day as they stopped to take a picture. Positive and motivating posters decorated the facility while smaller kindness notes were slipped into each family’s grocery bag. Several families even walked away with raffle items including new bikes, gift cards, and a brand new canoe. Additionally, nine organizations such as food banks and local agencies provided information to guests about life-changing programs available to them.