Vashon Youth & Family Services (VYFS) is gearing up to hold its second annual Raft Up! fundraiser later this month.

This year’s event, set for Sunday, Sept. 20 at Jensen Point, is open to any human-powered craft: kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and rafts.

Last year, the agency held the event for the first time, hoping to draw 2,500 people and break the rafting-up world record. Attendance fell far short of that, with less than 300 people attending. But even then, VYFS Executive Director Kathleen Johnson said she looked forward to holding the event this year. Now Raft Up! is coming back with more attainable goals and the focus on having fun together, she said.

Rafting-up occurs when canoeists and kayakers move next to each other and grab each other’s boats or cross their paddles to provide more stability on the water. The message of coming together for support is appropriate for the agency, she added.

“Obviously the theme that we’re stronger together reflects the work we do at VYFS,” she said.

VYFS has a program that allows people to receive care on a sliding scale or pay what they can. It is part of the agency’s mission to give away services, Johnson added, and this year VYFS intends to give away at least $40,000 worth of professional services, but it cannot do it alone.

“We need community support so that we can continue to do that,” she said. “In order to meet our mission, we need the community to join us.”

Raft Up! will begin at 10 a.m. with a family-friendly festival at Jensen Point, including a bouncy house, face painting and a bubble station. Glass Bottle Creamery will be there with its ice cream sandwich trike.

Camille Coldeen and Gus Reeves, Gregg Curry and Rick Dahms, and Zazzer Zuzz  will play from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Deejay Jessica Sanders will close out the day from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Even if you’re not going out on the water, it’s a great way to celebrate the last full day of summer. And the raft up itself is beautiful to see,” Johnson said.

This year organizers are encouraging teams to dress up and decorate their boat to get in the spirit of the day.

The human-powered boats will be called to form the raft-up at 1:30. p.m. Participants with all level of experience are welcome.

Registration is open at vyfs.org/raftup or at the VYFS main office. Tickets are $25 per boat. In addition to the Raft Up!, VYFS is raffling off a new kayak, paddle and spray skirt. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Vashon Bookshop, VYFS main office  or online.