West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
After an early rush, it’s also “no waiting” in the north lot of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), where the West Seattle Food Bank is offering turkeys and other holiday staples to West Seattle families. We stopped by just before 11 and they had distributed almost 200 turkeys and food boxes so far, with another 300+ to go – just drive/ride into the lot, and volunteers will point out to the distribution stop.
WSFB’s development director Breanna Bushaw tells us the boxes include potatoes, onions, pears, carrots, celery, brussels sprouts, gravy mix, green beans, chicken broth, eggs, milk, and butter. If you can’t get there today (they’re expecting to be there until 2 but sooner’s better than later) but need holiday food, you can also visit the WSFB HQ at 35th and Morgan for a turkey before Thanksgiving – Monday: 10 am – 2 pm, Tuesday: 10 am – 2 pm, or Wednesday: 10 am -4 pm
9:54 AM: Lighter turnout than years past in the early going at Eastridge Church‘s West Seattle distribution of turkeys and groceries, about to go into its second hour. Lots of volunteers on hand to help, though.
The church does this every year at its West Seattle and Issaquah campuses, and this year has more than 1,600 turkeys between the two.
All are welcome, no questions asked – the church is at 39th SW and SW Oregon, and vehicles can approach from NB 39th (off Fauntleroy Way).
10:19 AM: Just went through the area again. No line.
A crowd gathered tonight at High Point Commons Park for a first-ever seasonal celebration. It was billed as “Fruit Tree Lighting,” but the lights extended beyond the tiny trees planted last spring as the start of a community orchard. As shown in our video above, community builder Ella McRae led the crowd in a countdown that ended with attendees switching on battery-powered handheld tea lights, as well as the illumination of the little trees. The event also included a community resource fair with a variety of organizations participating, and music from the West Seattle High School Band. The orchard is near the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north end of the park.
Six days until Thanksgiving, and if you need help ensuring a holiday feast for your family, we’re reminding you today that you have two chances tomorrow, both while supplies last:
(WSB file photo)
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: The church’s annual tradition of giving away turkeys and bags of groceries is drive-up/ride-up again this year, starting at 9 am Saturday. No early queueing. Approach the church, which is at 39th/Oregon [map], via northbound 39th (accessible from westbound Fauntleroy Way SW). Open to all.
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK AT SSC: This is also a drive-up/ride-up event, but for West Seattle families only – turkeys and bags/boxes of holiday produce (etc.), starting at 10 am in the north parking lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW [map]; WSB sponsor) – approach from northbound 16th SW.
As we work on this year’s West Seattle Holiday Guide, with one week to go until Thanksgiving, we’re compiling information on holiday food orders. If you haven’t finalized your feast, this may be of use:
For West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) holiday meals and items, Monday (November 22nd) is the ordering deadline, and you can pick up all the way until 3 pm Thanksgiving Day (the store is open 5 am-6 pm on the holiday). Info is here … For PCC Community Markets‘ turkeys and other holiday meats, Sunday (November 21st) is the deadline – info is here … For Whole Foods Market, order by Tuesday (November 23rd); info is here … For Metropolitan Market, order by Monday – info is here … Pecos Pit (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) is taking orders for Thanksgiving feasts or a la carte through Saturday (November 20th) … Husky Deli is offering Thanksgiving meals – order by Monday … Lady Jaye has smoked half-turkeys and Thanksgiving meals but is almost sold out – check here.
Looking for Thanksgiving pies? A La Mode Pies is already sold out for Thanksgiving week but Bakery Nouveau is taking orders through Saturday (go here) … Flying Apron is taking orders through 5 pm Saturday … Caffe Ladro is also offering pie pre-orders through Saturday.
Anything to add? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
In addition to The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s takeaway Thanksgiving dinners, we have word of another free meal in West Seattle on the holiday next Thursday. Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Eagles will once again be hosting a free community Thanksgiving meal. All are welcome! Regardless of any situation.
Thanksgiving Day 2-5 PM
West Seattle Eagles
4426 California Ave SW
All ages are welcome.
Just eight days until Thanksgiving, and we’re continuing to work on this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, to launch later this week. If you haven’t already sent information on your holiday-season event, donation drive, fundraiser, performance, special hours, holiday food pre-orders/kits … please send it to us so we can get that info to tens of thousands of your neighbors. Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round calendar too) – thank you!
(WSB photo, November 2020)
In addition to the already announced Eastridge Church turkey-and-groceries giveaway in The Junction on Saturday morning, the West Seattle Food Bank is also again offering free turkeys and other holiday food in a drive-through distribution at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) that day. WSFB development director Breanna Bushaw says the Saturday distribution is “open to any West Seattle family in need of Thanksgiving groceries.” Details:
Each family will receive a turkey and a box of produce, or turkey and thanksgiving box.
Drive Thru Distribution
South Seattle College, North Lot
6000 16th Ave SWSaturday, November 20, 2021
10 am to 2 pm (or supplies run out)Masks are required. Must remain in your car.
Maximum of 2 families per household. Each family must be present & show proof of address.If families are not able to make it to our Saturday Thanksgiving distribution, our walk-up distribution at West Seattle Food Bank will have turkeys next week:
Monday: 10 am – 2 pm
Tuesday: 10 am – 2 pm
Wednesday: 10 am -4 pmThursday & Friday: CLOSED
The WSFB is headquartered on the southeast corner of 35th SW and SW Morgan. If you don’t need food but would like to donate, Bushaw says the food bank needs money most of all: “Monetary donations help us purchase fresh produce, meat and dairy products. Donations also go to fund our emergency financial assistance program to help neighbors stay in their homes and keep utilities on when they are going through a tough financial time.” (Here’s where to donate.)
Every year, many ask about Thanksgiving volunteering opportunities. So far we don’t have anything for the actual holiday, but if you have time to spare the day before, the Junction Church (4157 California SW) needs helpers for its free Thanksgiving Eve community lunch at noon Wednesday, November 24. Interested? Text Pastor Gilbert, 206-327-2348.
Just two days remain to get in on this school fundraiser, which is Thanksgiving-specific!
Alki Elementary PTA‘s Thanksgiving Shop is open! We have partnered with Macrina Bakery, Metropolitan Market, and Remlinger Farms with an offering to help you gather around the table with loved ones:
-Macrina Bakery baked goods
-Fall Flower Bouquets
-Sparkling Apple Cider
-Remlinger Fresh Fruit Pies
-Family Gratitude KitPre Sale ends November 17th with order pick-up at Alki Elementary on Wednesday, November 24th from 11 am-3 pm
Here’s another way to share your bounty with neighbors in need, if you can, as Thanksgiving approaches – Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor) has a drive-through food drive this Wednesday, 3:30-5:30 pm. Bring donations for the White Center Food Bank to Daystar at 2615 SW Barton [map], right across the street from Westwood Village. A list of the most-wanted items are on the Daystar website.
Here’s another opportunity for you to support a school community in West Seattle. This announcement is from Friends of Roxhill Elementary:
We learned that the organization that provided Roxhill families with holiday support in the past cannot provide the same level of support this year. Every child should have a holiday meal and present, and parents and caregivers could use less stress this holiday season. You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Roxhill Elementary, the school PTO. All donations are tax-deductible.
Many Roxhill Elementary families have already donated, but we’re a small Title I school of about 240 students. 56% of our students are on free or reduced lunch and 30% of our families are supported by the Seattle Housing Authority. So we really need help from the great folks in West Seattle, not just our school, to hit our fundraising goal.
Less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, so we’re working on this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. If you haven’t already sent information on your holiday-season event, donation drive, fundraiser, performance, special hours, holiday food orders/kits … now’s the time to get that info to tens of thousands of your neighbors. Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round calendar too) – thank you!
From bundled bears (above) to kitchen bunnies (below), the Arrowhead Gardens Holiday Craft Bazaar is brimming eith gift possibilities.
Holiday decorations too, including mini-sequined trees:
More than 20 vendors are selling items, including preserves and baked goods, in the administration building on the east side of the complex.
They’re welcoming shoppers and browsers until 3 pm. Some of the items are recycled, too, if you’re looking for a low-waste holiday, like gift boxes made out of reused photo cards. They’re also raising money for the residents’ annual sock donations to people in need. While Arrowhead Gardens’ official address is 9200 2nd SW, you can enter either off Olson or Myers [map], lots of parking.
A Veterans Day postscript – Jason sends this report and photos from Scout Troop 799‘s cleanup project:
In service, and in recognition of those who’ve served, Scouts from West Seattle Troop 799 gloved up and met at 9 am Thursday morning near Denny International Middle School to pick up trash, clean out rain gardens and storm drains, and enjoy the relatively warm temps and drizzle carried by the atmospheric river flowing over our state throughout this weekend. Afterward, some of them ran a mile at SWAC just to enjoy the rain and fresh air it brings even more!
They collected roughly a dozen trash bags of waste, mostly dropped school supplies, candy and snack wrappers. Nothing dangerous was found, which was a welcome sight, although they were prepared.
Happy Veterans Day, and gratitude from Pack/Troop 799 to all those who’ve served.
Another holiday announcement from Our Lady of Guadalupe:
Fair Trade Sale: Get Your Chocolate Advent Calendar, Gifts, and Coffee Today!
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s annual Fair Trade Sale is staying online for one more year. Many of the artisans, farmers, and communities we support through the sale are struggling this year due to COVID and slow sales. Through our virtual sale, you’ll find a large variety of unique, quality gifts AND 20% of sales come back to us! Win, win, win! Simply shop through our custom parish link: serrv.org?a=olgfairtrade. Bonus: From 11/8-11/22 get free ground shipping with promo code SE4SERRV21. This year, we are also selling Pura Vida coffee for $12/bag and $4/bag comes right back to us! Pura Vida has been VERY generous every year, donating 100% of sales (sometimes even more!). To order their delicious ground or whole bean coffee, visit https://olgseattle.org/news/fairtrade by November 29. We’ll have coffee ready to pick up at OLG on December 11/12 or via the school that week! Interested in products from our other annual vendors? Visit our website for their links!
(WSB file photo)
A seagoing holiday tradition is setting sail again this year after skipping last year because of the pandemic. The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship will make three West Seattle stops on its first two nights of the season. Two weeks from tomorrow – on Friday night, November 26th – it will anchor off Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW) for 20 minutes of holiday music at 5:35 pm. The next night – Saturday, November 27th – the Christmas Ship will stop outside Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) at 5:35 pm, and at Alki Beach Park (usually near the Bathhouse) at 8:35 pm, with a bonfire at that stop. The singers for all three West Seattle performances will be The Dickens Carolers. That’s it for scheduled Christmas Ship stops in West Seattle this year; the usual Lowman Beach Park stop is not possible because much of the park is closed for the shore-restoration project. See this year’s full regional Christmas Ship schedule here.
P.S. We’ll be working on our annual West Seattle Holiday Guide in the days ahead, so if you have an event planned (including Thanksgiving food info), send it! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.
Seen in the West Seattle Junction this morning: The Easy Street Records marquee, a sign of gratitude for veterans’ service. And across the street, volunteers of all ages gathered to place the flags that line the heart of The Junction on certain holidays:
Among this year’s volunteers, Cub Scout Pack 282, including Felix, who collaborated with former Eagle Scout (and current journalist) Brian Callanan:
Brita, Avery, and Josie were also among the youngest volunteers:
Veterans were among the volunteers too – below right is Keith Hughes, commander of American Legion Post 160:
Volunteers will return later this afternoon to remove the flags. You can volunteer now to help with the flags next year – or other Junction events; go here.
For a second year, no sit-down free Thanksgiving dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy – but this year, the venue is offering free dinners for pickup or delivery. Here’s the announcement:
There will be a free Thanksgiving Meal pick up at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th from 11 AM to 2 PM. While we are not able to host in our traditional sit-down style this year, we are offering pre-packaged dinners “to go” for walk-up or curbside delivery.
We are requesting that guests make a reservation to regulate the flow of people coming to pick up meals. They can call us at 206-932-1059 or email info@dsquaredcompany.com. They should leave their name, number of meals requested, time that they will be stopping by, and if they will be walking up or if they would prefer curbside delivery.
We will be making a limited number of deliveries in West Seattle and White Center for those who are unable to get to the Hall. Those people should call us at 206-932-1059. If they do not reach us during business hours, they should leave their name and number and we will return the call to get their details. They can also email us at info@dsquaredcompany.com
We will also have hot beverages and new socks and blankets to hand out.
At this time, we have all the volunteers that we need. We are not accepting dessert donations this year, nor clothing donations. We will accept new socks and blankets, which can be dropped off at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thanksgiving morning between 9:30 and noon.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is located at 9131 California Ave SW in the old Fauntleroy School Building, across the street from the Fauntleroy YMCA and The Fauntleroy Church United Church of Christ. Please contact us with any questions.
The Hall at Fauntleroy has offered free Thanksgiving dinners for more than 20 years.
(WSB photo, November 2020)
If you’re worried about affording a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving, here’s some help: Eastridge Church has announced that it will again give away hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 20th. It’ll be focused on drive-up service again this year, starting at 9 am – they ask that you approach the church (which is at 39th/Oregon on the east side of The Junction) northbound on 39th, and they won’t allow queueing before 8:55 am. Eastridge also does this at its Issaquah campus on the same morning, if you know somebody on the Eastside who needs the holiday help. There’s more info in our calendar listing.
Thanssgiving is less than three weeks away. If you can give a little to help families in need have a happier holiday, here’s one way:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Immigrant Ministry has been hard at work trying to procure turkeys for Thanksgiving for the new Latino Civic Alliance Center in Burien. Thanks to a very generous donation from Leschi Market, we can provide 100 free turkeys to these families in need in our area! We still need 50 turkeys to meet the need. If you would like to contribute to the cause, we will be collecting donations through Sunday, November 21. Please consider giving $25 to help purchase a turkey and some additional fixings. Amazingly, we have a generous donor who will match donations dollar for dollar! To donate, drop off cash or a check (made out to OLG with “turkeys” in the memo) at the Pastoral Center (7000 35th Ave SW, Seattle 98126). You can also give online at www.olgseattle.org (use the “turkey donation” section on the Donate page).
Love wildlife? Go see what Jen Vanderhoof has, at the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show, now in its first of three sessions this weekend. Her underwater seal photos are especially enchanting. Across from her booth, you’ll see Rance Curtis Holiman:
The vivid sunset painting was reminiscent of so many sunset drives westward on West Seattle’s water-facing hills. More local scenes are part of Tom Costantini‘s work:
Classic cars, too! Steps away, you’ll see Linda Zhao and her creations, including these cuddly bees:
They’re just a few of the more than one dozen artists from whom you can buy local to get your holiday shopping going – we also saw jewelry, cards, plants, textiles, garden art, more. Get in the holiday spirit with some music and decorations, in the Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) Fellowship Hall until 8 tonight, 10 am-4 pm Saturday, 11 am-2 pm Sunday. No admission fee.
What’s in the pickup shown above are the donations from last holiday season’s warm-clothing drive at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (WSB sponsor) – the biggest one ever. Can you help outdo that this year? The drive has just begun – here’s the announcement:
The 8th annual winter clothing drive has begun at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency.
In conjunction with the West Seattle Food Bank/West Seattle Helpline, we are collecting donations of clothes, coats, and shoes until January 1st. Please drop off your donations at 3435 California Ave SW. The office is open for donations Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. For undergarments and socks, please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items.
Pickup may be available for those who have donations but are unable to transport them.
For further information contact the State Farm office at 206-932-1878.
Thank you, West Seattle, for your generosity and spirit of giving.
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