In the heart of Bellevue, a flourishing partnership is reshaping perceptions and building bridges. Plymouth Crossing is more than just a building. It’s home to 92 people who experienced homelessness — including people like Kim and Michael, two Eastsiders now thriving in their homes at Plymouth.
Over the past two years, students and staff with Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart have embraced their neighbors at Plymouth Crossing. Through food drives, sandwich-making events, and heartfelt gestures, Forest Ridge is fostering this connection with service and shared humanity.
Rooted in compassion
Service is a core value at Forest Ridge, a national leader in educating and empowering the next generation of girls and young women. Each grade participates in retreat days centered around giving back, and Plymouth Crossing has become a key focus of these efforts, with students preparing brown bag meals for residents. They assemble sandwiches with fresh ingredients: crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, American cheese, and six slices of turkey or ham. They also include chips, pudding, and handwritten affirmation notes.
Fifth graders take pride in making sandwiches for Plymouth residents; Photo Courtesy of Forest Ridge
Forest Ridge students often pass Plymouth Crossing on their way to school. Now, they see it not as a distant or unfamiliar place, but as a part of their extended community. “The students feel really good about providing food for Plymouth Crossing,” said Tom Konig, a middle school educator. “They take active roles in making these bags with love and care,” added Robin Vincent, the school’s Director of Faith and Justice.
Changing perceptions
This partnership is doing more than providing meals — it’s shifting perspectives. Long-held misconceptions about Plymouth residents who have experienced homelessness are giving way to greater empathy and respect. As Konig put it, “Many of the people at Plymouth Crossing are much more like us than we might assume. A lost job, an illness, an addiction — the people we’re helping today could just as easily be us tomorrow.”
Vincent said that serving the residents of Plymouth Crossing is essential to his school’s mission. He emphasized that the partnership reflects a commitment to community-based service and shared humanity. The relationship, he noted, is deeply reciprocal — not only meeting tangible needs but also offering his students meaningful personal growth.
Kim, a Plymouth Crossing resident, found stability at Plymouth after experiencing homelessness
“The residents’ smiles and genuine appreciation to receive such a small token from us has been the most impactful experience for me,” Vincent said. Konig added that his students often gain more from the partnership than the residents do. He values strong communication and warm reception from Plymouth staff, who quickly put every donation to good use.
Looking ahead
Forest Ridge hopes to deepen its connection with Plymouth even further. Plans are underway to bring students to Plymouth Crossing in the coming academic year, allowing them to see firsthand the impact of their service. It’s a step toward even greater understanding — and a reminder that community care is a shared responsibility.
Plymouth Crossing is not just a building. It’s a home for 92 individuals, a hub of resilience, and a testament to what is possible when we see each other clearly. Through partnerships like the one with Forest Ridge, it’s helping to create a Bellevue where everyone belongs.