West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Many holiday donation drives featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide have ended, but the Friends of Roxhill Elementary say there’s still time to help their school’s students and their families (donate here):
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, our school’s non-profit PTO.
Bring holiday cheer and help families cover basic household needs (e.g., groceries, cleaning supplies, utilities). Our goal is to provide each family with $200 in holiday and household support this year.
While we typically have about 50 families in our community who need support through the holiday season, Roxhill Elementary School’s counselor, Ms. Amber, has shared that the need for assistance has increased this year.
“Roxhill Elementary has the most amazing community of bright, loving kids and caring, generous families,” said Ms. Amber. “I know how hard it is to ask for help, so I honor every parent that has had the courage to let me know they need help right now. This is what community is about.”
Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with approximately 245 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. 60% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Over 72% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our school has a strong sense of community. We come together to celebrate and support each other.
You can help us show every family that they are seen and cared for.
Giving time, money, and/or talent – all ways to demonstrate the West Seattle Giving Spirit for tonight’s spotlighted organization, the West Seattle Community Orchestras. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn about, and support, some of our area’s nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Now, here’s WSCO’s story:
We are the West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) and we would love for you to join us as a musician or support us as a donor! WSCO teaches and rehearses orchestral music weekly Sept-May and performs 3 concerts annually at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium. Registration for our January-March and March-May termsis currently open!
We play again outdoors each summer at Lincoln Park for our Summer Play Along series. And at events like West Seattle Summer Fest, WSCO hosts several instrument petting zoos for children to see, touch, and play string, wind, and percussion instruments.
WSCO provides a community dedicated to musical growth, education, and appreciation, and welcomes musicians of all ages and abilities to create and perform music together. Our multi-generational organization uniquely promotes performing arts, artistic expression, and both K-12 education and lifelong learning, with opportunities to play in four different level ensembles (Debut Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra) and to learn to play an instrument in two classes (Student Beginning Strings and Adult Beginning Strings). WSCO does not charge tuition for students through K-12, eliminating a barrier to student participation. At every level, young people and adults play together in a relaxed, non-competitive environment that builds both confidence and community.
Half of our budget comes from adult musician dues and the other half from generous donations from members of the community like you. If you’re wondering where this money is going, here’s a high-level view of our expenses:
58% goes to compensating fairly our local conductors, coaches and staff
21% goes to renting rehearsal and concert spaces with Seattle Public Schools
20% goes to purchasing music, insurance, hosting our website…
And last but not least, your donations help us keep the program free for students through K-12!
Our next West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlight is Friday; you can scroll through our past spotlights here.
You give, they thrive! Here’s your next chance to demonstrate the West Seattle Giving Spirit. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn about, and support, some of our area’s nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Tonight – the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA:
Health and wellness should be accessible to everyone; and your contribution to the West Seattle YMCA will help make that a reality. All donations will be used to subsidize membership and program costs for those in financial need.
Every month we provide subsidized memberships for more than 550 people at our West Seattle and Fauntleroy facilities. These scholarships help people of all ages, abilities, and interests.
In some cases, it is helping a senior member attend an Active Older Adult fitness class or join our monthly potlucks and outings. Seniors can also have access to aquatic classes designed for their needs and for those with disabilities, or private personal-training sessions to support their lifestyle and health goals.
For others, a scholarship means that a child can have access to youth sports leagues and performance trainings. Youth can also attend youth equipment orientations, which educate young members on how to use gym equipment safely, practice good gym etiquette, and move their bodies correctly.
By contributing to the YMCA of West Seattle, you are helping to strengthen the community and ensure that these vital programs continue to thrive. Your generosity will create a lasting impact, fostering a healthier, more connected community for all.
The Y’s main West Seattle location is in The Triangle, at 3622 SW Snoqualmie, 206-935-6000. The Y is a WSB sponsor; nonprofits were chosen for these spotlights by the Learning Communities Foundation, which made an open call for participants and assigned the spots first-come first-served. Watch for the next spotlight Wednesday; see who’s already been featured by scrolling through this archive.
If you take new or gently used coats/warm clothing to the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive event before 2 pm, you might just get a carol! The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, West Seattle Food Bank, and West Seattle Junction Association crew at the booth on the south end of the Farmers Market (California/Alaska) sang “Jingle Bells” for us about an hour ago. They were already on their second pile of donations, too:
Take yours to the booth by 2 pm today!
(WSB photo, 2023: Part of the haul from last year’s Cocoa and Coat Drive)
Tomorrow’s the big day – one more major West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays event- the annual Cocoa and Coat Drive at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, and friends. Go check your closet/drawers/chair backs and see if you have coats or jackets in good shape that nobody’s using (or go buy one if you have time/money), and bring it/them to the market tomorrow (Sunday, December 15), 10 am-2 pm. You bring the coat(s), you get the cocoa as a reward! Donated coats/warm clothing go to the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline.
We close out this Friday with your next chance to demonstrate the West Seattle Giving Spirit. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn about, and support, some of our area’s unstoppable nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Tonight – the White Center Food Bank, whose mission stretches into West Seattle too:
Our mission is to minimize hunger while nourishing community, nurturing self-reliance and embracing our rich cultural diversity. The White Center Food Bank began unofficially in the mid-1970s as an emergency response to assist struggling families and individuals in the greater White Center and Highline areas during a major economic downturn. Much like today, many in the community were faced with difficult economic conditions that left them in need of food resources.
We were there then. We are here now.
Please consider a financial contribution, running a food drive or volunteering to help us keep the community fed!
We are also open for tours of our new facility. If you are interested, please contact Jefferson Rose, Development and Communications Director at jefferson@whitecenterfoodbank.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Monday!
The West Seattle Giving Spirit envelops and inspires people all around the peninsula, as local nonprofits fill an array of community needs. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of those amazing nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – see how DNDA‘s mission goes beyond its name:
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering residents of the Delridge neighborhood in West Seattle.
DNDA is more than just a neighborhood organization. We’re a growing community hub offering a wide range of services and opportunities for all families to participate in. From community rental spaces at our vibrant Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, to our commitment to restorative justice, nature restoration, free art programs, and affordable housing development, there’s something for everyone.
One of our core programs is the Summer Youth Program. which offers a variety of activities and experiences for young people ages 7 to 19. For over 5 years, this program has empowered young minds through engaging activities like field trips, sports tournaments, and environmental workshops. This program enriches lives, develops important skills, and fosters lasting relationships. Many participants, having grown up in this program, have now taken on leadership roles, shaping a brighter future for our community. In 2024, we served over 750 young people and plan to expand to serve even more families in the coming years.
To ensure that our youth can participate in these valuable experiences, we are seeking $50,000 to support purchasing and maintaining a transportation van. This van will allow us to remove logistical barriers and transport our program participants safely to and from various locations, expanding our reach and impact.
Your generous donation, in any amount, will directly contribute to providing our young people with the transportation they need to access enriching experiences and opportunities. By supporting DNDA, you are investing back into our community and helping to Integrate Art, Nature, and Neighborhood to build and sustain a dynamic Delridge!
Help us make a difference!
LEARN MORE – SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
QUESTIONS? Phoenix Robbins, 206-935-2999, phoenix@dnda.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Friday!
(WSB photo, this afternoon)
10 days after 13-year-old Nathan Tavel spent the morning after Thanksgiving in a one-person, one-hour bowl-a-thon to benefit local food banks, reps of both met up with him at West Seattle Bowl for a celebration of the final tally: $9,383, according to Nathan’s dad Phil Tavel. That’ll be split between the White Center Food Bank – whose Randy Nguyen is at left in our photo – and the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Fran Yeatts, Whit Carter, and Robbin Peterson are at right with Nathan, who bowled a perfect game during the fundraising hour.
(WSB photos)
12:10 PM: A big morning at the West Seattle Food Bank‘s headquarters in High Point! Nucor Steel employees delivered the results of their annual WSFB donation drive – more than two tons of food, and $21,850 in cash, cards, and company match!
Monetary donations to the WS Food Bank go far (here’s how to do that), as they have extra bulk purchasing power, but all this food will also help fight hunger this winter – lots of protein, grains, soups, pasta, and more.
We asked the WSFB crew if there’s anything in particular at the top of their wish list for your donations as we get further into the holiday season. We’re told ingredients for holiday meals – “the fixin’s” – are especially welcome. And next Sunday (December 15), please bring new or gently used coats to the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market for the Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive (you donate the coats, you get the cocoa), 10 am-1:30 pm, with the West Seattle Junction Association and Kiwanis Club of West Seattle.
1:25 PM: Full stats from Robbin Peterson at WSFB: “4,520 pounds of food donated – $4,864 in gifts from employees (cash, checks, and gift cards) – Nucor match: $16,986.”
(WSB photos)
Yet another chance to give today! Those were among the first toys donated at Fire Station 29 in North Admiral this afternoon, when the SFD two-hour Toys For Tots drive got going. Here’s the crew at Station 29 ready to accept your donations of new, unwrapped toys until 3 pm:
This is the only station in West Seattle among the six citywide that are participating in today’s drive, which continues until 3 pm. Just show up and drop off, on the east side of the station, which is at 2139 Ferry Avenue SW.
(WSB photos)
The SPD personnel working at the Southwest Precinct right now to sort and tag donated clothes are part of a first-of-its-kind donation drive. SPD’s Community Service Officers are often called on to help people in emergency situations with items like clothes, coats, even something as simple as socks … so they’re collecting donations today to be sure they have a stockpile. The Southwest Precinct is the first to do this; some of the donations will be stored downtown to help CSOs assist people all over the city.
At the precinct when we stopped by this past hour were Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite, CSOs Heslin and Huang, and Community Liaison Officer German Barreto. They told us they’re getting a lot of good stuff – they had been out of men’s pants, for example. What do they need most? we asked. Items that aren’t too closely fitted/sized – for example, sweat pants, in sizes that are flexible like small, medium, large, extra-large. Socks and hats are also welcome too. (But no used underwear.)
Satterwhite added that if you’re coming down during today’s drive, which continues until 3 pm in the community room just off the visitors’ parking lot on the south side of the precinct (2300 SW Webster), you’re also welcome to pick up a free steering-wheel lock if you need one.
And if you have clothing to donate but can’t get to the precinct today, email her and you can arrange a dropoff when the lobby is open (her address is on this page). CSO Heslin added that they might be able to pickup donations on Wednesdays, because that’s the day all CSOs work.
(WSB photos)
Turn in at that sign on the north side of SW Oregon east of 42nd, behind Hope Lutheran, and you’ll find the Caudle Family with their annual drop-off coats-and-food drive.
From left, Leah, Dominic, Tim, and Atticus Caudle have collected thousands of pounds of food and hundreds of coats since Atticus started this in 2020. They’d love to have you add to the totals today. The West Seattle Food Bank – which provides clothing as well as food to people in need – distributes what you drop off. Drive in, ride in, walk in, run in before 3 pm and they’ll do the unloading of whatever you bring!
The West Seattle Giving Spirit sustains thousands of people in our neighborhoods – and orcas too, as you’ll see in today’s spotlight. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of our area’s tireless nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – The Whale Trail, which may sound like a place, but is much more than that:
Celebrating West Seattle’s Role in Orca Conservation: The Whale Trail
(Girl Scouts learning about whales at Lincoln Park)
The Whale Trail is a series of places to watch orcas or other marine mammals from shore. Their mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship for marine mammals and their environment. Their overarching goal is to recover the endangered southern resident orcas from the threat of extinction.
From 16 inaugural locations in Washington, there are now more than 130 sites along the west coast from California to British Columbia. Each site has an accompanying page on their website, and many feature interpretive panels. In 2012, the organization received a City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund grant to place four signs in West Seattle and purchase 36 pairs of binoculars, which have been put to good use along West Seattle shores!
“When whales are near, our volunteer naturalists pass out the binoculars and help people spot and learn about the whales they are seeing.” Sandstrom says. “Watching whales from shore has played a critical role in orca recovery. When people learn the whales are endangered, the first thing they want to know is, how can I help?”
The Whale Trail was founded in 2008 by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, WDFW, Seattle Aquarium, and the Whale Museum. Many members of the team first met through successful efforts to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod. “Springer showed me what’s possible when people work together for the whales.” Sandstrom notes, “The Whale Trail was founded in that same collaborative spirit.”
The Whale Trail is headquartered in West Seattle. “I’m not sure I could have started this project anywhere else.” Says Sandstrom. “From businesses and community groups to our incredible volunteers, everyone has been so supportive. I feel lucky to live in a place that really embraces nonprofits.”
Leadership in Orca Recovery
Sandstrom recently served on Governor Inslee’s Task Force on Southern Resident Orca Recovery, where she championed a recommendation to license commercial whale-watching. The recommendation became law in 2019, with rules that were recently updated.
Starting January 1, 2025, all boaters must stay at least 1,000 yards away from southern residents. The distance is based on science showing the harmful impact of noise and disturbance on the orcas ability to find and catch their prey.
“When the whales return to the Salish Sea, it’s quieter,” Sandstrom says. “We can all be proud of a public process that worked! There are now nine calves under five years old, and six of those are female. Whether they survive and thrive into adulthood is up to us.”
Welcome the Orcas 2024
Join The Whale Trail next Tuesday (December 10) to celebrate the seasonal return of the southern resident orcas to central Puget Sound, and learn how to protect them. Get tickets here.
The Whale Trail is a small organization with a mighty impact! You can help by donating, volunteering, and attending events. Visit The Whale Trail’s website to learn more.
DONATE HERE
VOLUNTEER HERE
LEARN MORE HERE
QUESTIONS? Donna Sandstrom – info@thewhaletrail.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Monday!
Three quick reminders about don’t-miss events in the West Seattle Junction tomorrow (Saturday, December 7):
(WSB file photo)
KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Start your Saturday at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds, lots of free parking if you’re driving) for a tasty breakfast cooked by the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle – pancakes, Husky Deli ham, orange juice, coffee/tea … Santa’s there for photos and Marines are there to collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. Drop in any time between 7 am and 11 am. $10 at the door, $8 in advance, kids under 10 eat free with a paid adult.
P.S. The Kiwanis Club also is raising money for youth and other community work right now via this online silent auction – bid for cool items donated by local businesses!
(WSB photo – Caudle Family on donation-drive day in 2023)
DRIVE-UP/RIDE-UP/WALK-UP COAT AND FOOD DRIVE: Bring your donations to the lot behind Hope Lutheran (off Oregon just east of 42nd) for the Caudle Family‘s annual drop-off drive collecting new/gently used coats and nonperishable food, 10 am-3 pm.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS FESTIVAL AND TREE LIGHTING: 4-8 pm Saturday, gather in the heart of The Junction! The event is centered on SW Alaska between California and 42nd, which will be closed to through traffic – here’s the schedule:
4:00 PM – Festival begins. Night Market is open. Carolers, Metropolitan Singers, and Santa will be roaming the area.
4:30 PM – Endolyne Children’s Choir Performance
5:00 PM – The School of Rock Performance
5:30 PM – Pet Costume Contest on Stage
6:00 PM – Tree Lighting with carolers (Seattle Metropolitan Singers)
6:30 PM – Christmas DJ spinning holiday tunes
8:00 PM – Night Market closes
The list of Night Market vendors is here (and glow wands will be available for kids for $3). Check out the new more-walkable layout this year! For added festive touches, you’ll also see stilt-walkers, LED hula hoops, fire pits, lots of lights in Junction Plaza Park … that’s where the stage will be this year, and Brian Callanan will be this year’s emcee. In addition to adult beverages in the Beer Garden, you’ll also find cocoa being served up by Hope Lutheran.
These 3 events are just part of a BIG holiday lineup for this weekend – see it all in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(Photo courtesy Westside Neighbors Shelter)
As we’ve reported many times in recent years, Westside Neighbors Shelter (3618 SW Alaska) is West Seattle’s only emergency shelter, with overnight sleeping space during the cold months. Manager Keith Hughes asked us to share the latest wish list with you:
The real winter came on larger than expected. I am already averaging close to 30 people for dinner, overnight, and breakfast every day. I am running out of supplies much faster than anticipated. Things I am out or nearly out of include:
Instant Oatmeal (packets)
Instant Hot chocolate (packets)
Top Ramen noodle packets
Cup-o-soup
Granulated Sugar (5- or 10-pound bags)
White rice – 1- or 2-pound bags
12 oz hot cups (lids not needed)Thank you, West Seattle, for being so great about supporting the needs right here at home.
You can check out the shelter’s website for more info about how, where, and when to donate.
You have until 6:45 to bid, until 7 pm to view, at the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Festival of Mini-Trees, happening right now at Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW). More than 20 trees are being auctioned to raise money for the Rotary’s community work. The trees have themes – like this one for Huskies fans:
You can enjoy beverages, treats, live acoustic holiday music, and just enjoy browsing the trees:
Other tree themes include everything from movies to coffee! Wreaths are being auctioned off. Everything was donated to support the Rotarians’ work with students and other community projects.
The West Seattle Giving Spirit sustains thousands of people in our neighborhoods – and in White Center too. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of our area’s tireless nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – White Center Pride, whose work stretches into West Seattle, not just centered south of the city-limit line:
At White Center Pride, our mission is to foster a diverse LGBTQIA+ community in White Center through year-round events, grassroots efforts, and community initiatives, creating an inclusive space for all.
We strive to help create a vibrant and welcoming White Center where LGBTQIA+ individuals are embraced, valued, and empowered to live authentically, contributing to a community that thrives on diversity and inclusivity.
Our 5th annual Pride Street Festival saw record attendance, more than one hundred vendors, highlighting the strength and unity of our community.
Please join us in celebrating our community spirit at our Winter Fundraiser: Ho-Ho-Ho-Down at the Lumberyard from 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday, December 6th, at the Lumberyard Bar. It’s a $20 donation and we’re planning a rocking good time with food, fun and friends.
We’re always looking for help for this and future events, so please reach out to info@whitecenterpride.org and let us know how you’d like to support us as a volunteer.
We are entirely community-sponsored, so please donate. It’s Your Pride!!!
DONATE HERE
VOLUNTEER SIGNUP – email info@whitecenterpride.org
LEARN MORE HERE
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Friday!
If you have coats/warm clothing you don’t need – donate them to someone who does. in addition to ongoing drives (see the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide), here are two opportunities on Saturday (December 7):
CAUDLE FAMILY’S DROP-OFF DRIVE: Once again this year, the Caudle family will be in the lot behind Hope Lutheran Church (off SW Oregon just east of 42nd SW), where you can drive up/ride up/walk off and drop off your donation(s).
They’re collecting non-perishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank as well as coats/warm clothing for WSFB’s Clothesline and the Westside Interfaith Network, 10 am-3 pm. Leah, Tim, Atticus, and Dominic Caudle hope to see you there.
SOUTHWEST PRECINCT DRIVE: Seattle Police Community Service Officers are collecting warm clothing 11 am-3 pm the same day (Saturday, December 7) at the precinct, 2300 SW Webster. They’ll be in the community room, right off the parking lot on the south side of the building.
(2023 reader photo, from 600+ cookies baked by Tibbetts United Methodist Church ‘and friends’)
For the 26th year, the nonprofit organization known as The Christmas People will be accepting homemade cookies during Christmas week, with a dropoff spot in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share with you:
The Christmas People will once again be collecting homemade Christmas Cookies at West Seattle Co-Working, 9030 35th Avenue SW, on
Saturday, December 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;Sunday, December 22nd, from 1 to 4 p.m.; Monday, December 23rd, and Tuesday, December 24th, from 10-4. Cookies may also be dropped off at our main kitchen location, Artisan Community Kitchen, 10836 E. Marginal Way S., Tukwila, Saturday, December 21, through Tuesday, December 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are hoping for 9,000 cookies, which will be assorted and distributed to 12 shelters and centers. Also food preparers and drivers are needed. Please call us for information – co-founders Fred Hutchinson and Ruth Bishop, 206-719-4979.
The West Seattle Giving Spirit sustains thousands of people in our area. Among them, the families served by WestSide Baby, the next spotlighted organization in our holiday-season series. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of our area’s tireless nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Here’s how to “Give Joy,” and more, via WestSide Baby:
For nearly 25 years, WestSide Baby has been a lifeline for families in King County, providing essential items to children in need. Through the generosity of our community, we support thousands of families each year.
One of our most meaningful efforts is our Give Joy campaign, which runs through December 31st. This campaign addresses the need for warm clothing and diapers, as the colder months approach. Winter can be especially challenging for families facing financial hardship, and Give Joy helps ensure children have the basics they need to stay warm and healthy.
Over the past year, WestSide Baby has seen an increased need for our services. In 2023, we distributed more than 2.7 million diapers and this year, we’ve fulfilled more than 15,469 orders — a 14% increase over last year at this time.
As the need for our services grows, we’re calling on you to help us make an even-bigger impact. Every donation makes a difference and helps us reach even more families in need. We invite you to join us in spreading joy and supporting families when they need it most.
Questions? info@westsidebaby.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Wednesday!
Our video shows the local band Better As Brass entertaining shoppers in The Junction during one of last year’s Hometown Holidays Shop Late Thursdays. The band is scheduled to be back this Thursday (December 5) – with a special busking beneficiary, explains BAB’s Kevin Freitas:
Last December, after we played in the Junction for the holidays, a neighbor was inspired by seeing us and got in touch to join the band. She’s been a joyous addition that we’ve all loved getting to know over the year. A few weeks ago, however, a medical emergency put her in the hospital, where she’s still in recovery/rehab. Please join us 7-9 pm in front of the Key Bank in the Junction, where we’ll play our hearts out for her and, if you’re at all able, please considering donating. Anything we earn from our busk will go directly to her as gift cards to help with pharmacy and other misc. costs. Thanks, West Seattle!
That’s just one of multiple reasons to visit The Junction on Thursday night – among others, The Silver Belles will be caroling again, too,
(WSB photo, 2023 Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast)
One week from today – Saturday, December 7th – brings some of the biggest events of the holiday season. It all starts at 7 am in the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s annual pancake breakfast. $8 in advance or $10 at the door – and kids under 10 eat free! – gets you pancakes, Husky Deli ham, orange juice, coffee, and tea. Free Santa photos! Raffles! Benefit wreath, ornament, and nut sales! And you’re welcome to bring new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots (with active-duty Marines there to gratefully accept them). Show up whatever time works for you between 7 am and 11 am next Saturday morning. The entrance is right off the (free) parking lot on the south side of the Masonic Center (and again, you can buy your discounted advance ticket right now by going here).
P.S. The Kiwanis Club also is raising money for its community work right now via an online auction, with items including gift certificates/cards for local businesses, from coffee to clothing (and beyond!). Go here to browse and bid!
Another cold night begins … and the West Seattle Giving Spirit sustains the Westside Neighbors Shelter, our next spotlighted organization in our holiday-season series. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of our area’s hardworking nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Tonight – consider this one-of-a-kind shelter:
On a freezing night in 2019, Keith Hughes opened the doors of the American Legion Hall to a handful of people with nowhere to sleep safely and stay warm. As Commander of American Legion Post 160, he was used to assisting veterans; however, he knew he also had to respond to the emergency needs of the men and women huddled outside his door.
Since then, Westside Neighbors Shelter has expanded to act as a morning warmup center year-round, with hot drinks and breakfast. From November into March, the hall becomes a sleeping room filled with cots, giving unhoused adults a place to stay warm and dry when the outside temperatures fall to dangerous levels. Hot dinners and breakfast are provided by the local community. People experiencing homelessness can shower and get clean clothing. All adults are welcome, regardless of gender, whether or not they’re a veteran.
Westside Neighbors Shelter is a volunteer-operated emergency shelter; it currently receives no funding from government sources. The shelter has only one paid employee: a security professional who watches the hall when it’s occupied overnight. Community donations of money, labor, and supplies help provide food, heat, and basic sanitation for the increasing number of people unable to find a place to live in West Seattle and Burien.
As word of this place grew, so did the number of men and women hoping for a hot meal, a shower and clean clothes, and a place to shelter from a freezing night. The number of people seeking shelter here has risen dramatically–from up to 20 per night in 2019 to up to 40 per night in 2023. “I don’t see that stopping or even leveling off,” says Keith.
Keith estimates that last winter the shelter handed out 1,300 pairs of socks, 800 stocking caps, 800 pairs of gloves, 500 sets of clothing, and 400 winter coats. “We take care of a lot of people here. I am sure it’s 500 or 600 individuals over the winter,” he says.
“We’re providing temporary emergency sheltering. Most of the people who come here are on a journey to find permanent housing solutions, and this is a stopover on the journey.”
“We don’t get a lot of feedback from people who are here for one or two nights and move on. But out of the core of longer-term clients, we have had our successes with those who have been able to find interim housing solutions, and those who have come to their own realization that they need professional help for mental-health issues, alcohol and drug overuse issues, and we have sometimes been able to help them find resources to meet their needs. Those resources are outside of this facility, because we can’t provide those resources directly here at this time,” says Keith.
Your support can keep dozens of people safe and warm every night this time of year.
DONATE HERE
VOLUNTEER HERE
WHAT’S NEEDED MOST
LEARN MORE ABOUT WESTSIDE NEIGHBORS SHELTER
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here, and watch for the next one on Monday!
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