Bellevue police collect donations that offer struggling families life-changing help

BELLEVUE, Wash. — You won’t find “mover” in their job descriptions— but you may catch Bellevue police hauling furniture and appliances into apartments at a transitional housing complex thanks to donations from fellow officers, the community and nonprofits.

"There's something to be said about having, you know; [getting] to sit down on your own chair, your own couch,” said Bellevue police officer Craig Hanaumi, after moving furniture into the apartment of family who recently moved out of a shelter. "My boss donated this box spring and mattress."

Earlier this week, Bellevue police officers made an online post asking the community for donations to help furnish a local family’s mostly empty apartment.

On Thursday, they used one of the department’s police vans to move furniture that had been quickly donated and collected from the officers and the community, including nonprofits.

"We put all the pieces together,” said Hanaumi. "With the power of social media, we can use that platform to share the need and I mean, like, usually the response coming back is too much."

Hanaumi said what started internally, several years ago, to help families in need, has spread outside the police department’s walls; life-changing help that’s allowed families to get back on their feet.

“I’m a single mother of two kids and so it’s been really a blessing,” said a mother who received furniture Thursday. “It feels like home now.”

"It gives you hope because a lot of people coming in here don't have a lot of hope,” said Holly Connell, who’s now moving out of the transitional housing near downtown Bellevue.

Hanaumi said while the goal is to do good, this type of policing can benefit everyone and make the community safer.

“Their first contact with us is by us delivering furniture,” said Hanaumi. “So maybe they’ll be more comfortable telling us something if something happens to them or if they see something, or heaven forbid, they’re a victim of a crime.”

Contact chanaumi@bellevuewa.gov to inquire about donation collections in the Bellevue area.

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