West Seattle, Washington
31 Sunday
As the virus crisis throws more families into economic insecurity – and worsens the situation for many who were already there – WestSide Baby is focused on emergency diaper distribution. We were at the nonprofit’s White Center hub at midday today as case managers for struggling families stopped by to pick up extra boxes of diapers. By the time we stopped by, they had loaded more than three dozen vehicles with about 70,000 diapers.
WS Baby’s interim executive director Sara Cody Roth explains, “Our mission to meet children’s basic needs to keep them safe, warm and dry is more important and more urgent than ever before.” And while many have asked about volunteer or material needs, which usually they accept joyfully, they’ve suspended that for now – what they need most so they can keep buying discounted diapers is money – here’s how to donate if you can.
For everyone who is ready to help … the best place to start is your own immediate neighborhood, especially if you know of older or otherwise high-risk people who live nearby. In that spirit, volunteers have developed a guide for what to do to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus (or any others) while you’re getting or receiving help. Thanks to Cindi Barker of the Neighborhood Emergency Hubs for sharing this. We suggest printing if you can (here’s the PDF version).
11:51 AM: The photo and announcement are from the Lafayette Elementary PTA in The Admiral District:
Lafayette Elementary families have been donating food, books and games for our community. All are located in tubs in the front of our school daily M-F from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. We’d like to invite anyone in need to visit and to help themselves. If you would like more information, you can email the PTA at lafayette.pta.seattle@gmail.com.
Lafayette is at 2645 California SW [map]. We are checking on whether they’re accepting more donations.
1:26 PM: The reply: “The bins are on the smaller side so we will have volunteers to come and collect excesses and check on the amounts in the containers periodically. If they would like to donate but don’t want to drop off at the school, they can email the lafayette PTA address and we can organize a drop-off location.”
8:06 PM FRIDAY: Announced today – a chance to help The Admiral District‘s beverage businesses stay afloat:
These last few weeks have been really tough for a lot of local businesses in the Admiral Junction. Here is your chance to help out. This Sunday, March 15th, join us for a bar crawl to support your favorite local businesses. Each of these businesses will be running drink specials and food specials.
5 pm – The Nook
5:30 pm – Yen Wor (in the bar in the back)
6 pm – Admiral Pub
6:30 pm – Arthur’s
7 pm – Mission Cantina
7:30 pm – Copper Coin
8 pm – Parliament Tavern
8:30 pm – CircaIf you can’t join us for the bar crawl, please try and stop by on Sunday to one of these businesses, and if you can’t stay, you can always buy gift cards. Any amount of support would be greatly appreciated from all your favorite bartenders, servers, cooks, dishwashers, and barbacks in the Admiral Junction.
Starting point The Nook is at 2206 California SW.
ADDED 11:15 AM SATURDAY: The proprietors have just told us this is off, after they discussed further and agreed the “social distancing” recommendations might be tough to meet.
The Highland Park Elementary PTA is working to ensure community members stay fed. If you need help – or can offer help – here’s what Laura Olson, co-president, sent us along with the photos:
We are here at Highland Park Elementary, handing out grocery bags of food and sack lunches to our school families. We’ll be here all day, until 7 and again tomorrow.
Food is available to our community members in need; please stop by. We are taking donations of food or volunteers, and donations can be made via PayPal to hpemustang@gmail.com. Thank you for your help! The more support we receive, the more families we can help during this school closure.
HPE is at 1012 SW Trenton [map].
Many have asked how they can help neighbors in the midst of all this. We sent that question to the West Seattle Food Bank, for starters. Here’s how executive director Fran Yeatts replied, with an update on ther operations as well as what you can do to help:
We want to keep our community healthy while still ensuring access to basic needs!
In light of the news regarding COVID-19, we are taking measures to keep our spaces safe for clients and volunteers. It is our priority to keep our community healthy while continuing to ensure all our neighbors have access to food, emergency financial assistance, diapers, and other basic needs.
Here’s how we are moving forward with our services:
· At this time, the Food Bank will remain open. We have slightly expanded hours in order to limit the number of individuals in the food bank at one time. Our lobby is closed so shoppers are waiting outside. We are continually cleaning surfaces and carts and encouraging social distancing while at the food bank.
The Clothesline will be closed until further notice.
We continue to process requests for financial assistance for eviction notices and utility shut off notices.
We will communicate with community partners to determine how to best ensure our students stay fed during school closures.
We will continue to provide Home Delivery services to those on our list and add deliveries as able for individuals unable to get to the food bank due to illness.
We will not be taking any new orders through the Baby & Child Corner but will distribute orders on hand and diapers & supplies if they are available.
People at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and anyone in poor health are encouraged to stay home.
Here’s how you can help:
· Financial assistance allows us the flexibility of using funds for specific needs that arise from this situation. If interested in providing financial assistance, please donate here.
· This is a very fluid situation. As we identify additional ways this community can assist, we will keep you posted.
As we’ve been reporting, the West Seattle Food Bank recently merged with the West Seattle Helpline, so its mission is broader than ever, keeping people from becoming homeless, as well as fighting hunger.
(Photo courtesy Seattle Parks)
Once again this year, you’re invited to become a SUNGuide – here’s what that’s all about:
Become a SUNGuide!
Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote, and foster appreciation of nature by connecting students with their Seattle parklands, and providing active learning opportunities in nature.
As a SUNGuide, you will:
*Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
*Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
*Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences and equity concepts
*Lead hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to forests
*Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s destination Parks while helping others do the sameTo Apply
Review the position description, training schedule, and apply online by Thursday, March 19, 2020!
Four months after the plan was announced, the West Seattle Food Bank–WS Helpline merger is complete. Today’s announcement explains what that means for everyone who uses their services – and for the community at large:
As of today, the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline’s merge into one stronger organization is complete. We are excited to combine forces and, with our neighbors like you, improve and expand our services in this community.
Joined together as one organization, our comprehensive services include:
Food Bank services, including our Shopping Model Food Bank, the Mobile Food Bank, and Home Delivery Service. The Shopping Model Food Bank is our primary location that offers food, pet food, and other items to families in need. For those who have difficulty getting to the Food Bank, we offer a Mobile Food Bank service that distributes food to four apartment buildings and the Senior Center in West Seattle. Finally, we also offer the Home Delivery Service, which delivers groceries to those with limited mobility.
Helpline services, which provides emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness, immanent evictions, and utility shut-offs. We also provide free bus tickets to those who financially qualify. These trips ensure clients’ transportation to school, work, the food bank, medical appointments, and more.
The Clothesline, our free clothing bank, where clients can shop for basic attire, professional wear, school clothing, and more.
The Taking Care of Children initiatives, including the Backpack Program and the Baby & Child Corner programs. The Backpack Program partners with local schools to provide six kid friendly meals each week to students at risk of hunger. The Baby & Child Corner provides families essential items, like diapers and formula, for their infant or toddler.
Community Connections, which links community members with vital services such as emergency rent support, assistance finding employment, healthcare, language services, and more. In addition, the Bookcase Program allows clients to take home up to 10 books each visit.
All the needed programs that both agencies provided in the past will continue as we move to serve this community in a more efficient and effective manner. Please visit westseattlefoodbank.org for more information.
The WSFB remains headquartered at 35th/Morgan; its executive director Fran Yeatts remains in that role with the newly expanded organization. The first big fundraising event for the newly expanded WSFB is the Instruments of Change dinner/auction May 9th – more on that here.
We’re now less than two weeks away from a fun night that’s a big benefit in more ways than one – here’s the invitation:
Please join us for the West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance 2020!
Friday, March 13th from 5:30 – 9 pm
West Seattle High School Commons
Tickets – $30 advance online/$35 at the door/$10 dance onlyFeaturing the West Seattle Big Band
Also performing: WSHS Jazz Ensembles, Band, Orchestra, and ChoirTickets and more information at www.wshsmusic.org
What is the Big Band Dinner Dance? The Dinner Dance is the WSHS Music Program’s largest community event, offering music from West Seattle Big Band and all the WSHS Music Ensembles. A wonderful dinner is prepared and served by WSHS Culinary Students, and along with non-alcoholic beverages, is included with your admission. The Dance Floor will be open to all. Between sets, opportunities to support our musicians will be available with a raffle, a few special items for auction, and direct donation.
Have an item or service to donate? We’ll be raffling off baskets with all types of items, gift cards, and services. We’d love to receive something from you, and if you’d like, we’ll add it to our advertising and communications. Please contact us at westseattle.musicboosters@gmail.com.
What does the Dinner Dance benefit? West Seattle High School Music is growing! Each year our program gets bigger and we need more of everything – music, uniforms, instruments, coaching, transportation, scholarships for trips, and more.
Questions? westseattle.musicboosters@gmail.com or visit wshsmusic.org.
(WSB photos)
12:04 PM: Got a bike, parts, and/or accessories you don’t need any more? Bring them to the lot behind Hope Lutheran (42nd/Oregon in The Junction) by 1 pm for the Bike Works drive that Spencer Mueller is hosting!
40+ bikes so far.
12:29 PM: Added photos. Spencer attends school and church at Hope Lutheran and explained that a service project is required as part of confirmation – he’s “always been passionate about bicycling” and thought about trail-building but decided to do this instead, so Bike Works could fix up donated bicycles and get them to people in need. And thanks to generous WSB readers – Spencer’s dad told us he’s been asking donors how they heard about it, and most cited WSB.
As noted in our daily highlights, this is Day One of this year’s Girl Scout Cookie sales. And the return of the rain is NOT getting in the way:
Thanks to @patrickgerding for tweeting that photo from Seacrest, where Troop 44428 is selling cookies right now. Meantime, while out on errands, we found Troop 41196 at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) – Mira and Margaret were by the south door:
Many other locations – use the lookup to find locations and times. New cookie this year, if you haven’t heard – Lemon-Ups have joined the lineup. This year’s cookie sales continue through March 15th.
*NEW DATE: MAY 1ST*
Got plans for Saturday night next weekend? Go back in time and help local students get ahead! Here’s the invitation:
Madison Middle School’s Roaring ’20s Gala
Come Join Us For an Evening of Fun, Food, and Fundraising!
Saturday, March 7th from 5:30-11:00 PM at the beautiful The Sanctuary at Admiral- we’d love to have you participate!
Visit our website for tickets, to make a donation, and learn more about our mission.
Thank you for supporting our group and our goals!
for questions, email: fundraising@madisonptsa.com
Fun fact– Madison Middle School & The Sanctuary both opened in the 1920s!!
(The venue is a former church, designated a city landmark in 2009.)
Help a local teen get others moving! Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Bike Drive
Saturday, February 29th
10 am-1 pmDrop off your used unwanted bike, bike parts, and bike accessories to benefit Bike Works, promoting the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities.
Hosted by 8th grader Spencer Mueller
**Parking lot behind** Hope Lutheran Church & School
4456 42nd Avenue SW
(WSB photo from 2019 West Seattle 5K)
As noted in today’s edition of the West Seattle High School newsletter Westside Weekly, the date is set for this year’s West Seattle 5K – Sunday, May 17th. It’s the 12th annual run/walk to raise money for the WSHS PTA to help students; WSB has been a sponsor every year since the start, and we’ve signed on again. THey’re still seeking more sponsors, so if your business/organization is interested, email westseatttle5k@westseattle5k.com. Meantime, if you just want to run/walk – the route’s along Alki – stay tuned, as registration opens soon.
Just announced… a chance to enjoy a big comedy show without leaving the peninsula, while helping a good cause:
Room Circus Medical Clowning Presents:
4th Annual Stand Up for Healing Laughter
Saturday March 28 2020 8:00 – 9:30 pm
Doors Open 7:15 pm
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SWTickets On Sale Now
$25 – General Admission Tickets
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stand-up-for-healing-laughter-show-tickets-95282058201
A FUN filled evening of stand up and physical comedy benefitting Room Circus Medical Clowning at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Featuring:
Emcee/Stand Up Comedian:Steffon Moody
Stand Up Comedian: Emmett Montgomery
Comedy Improv: Jet City Improv
Musical Comedy: Kerfuffle – Linda Severt & Sarah Liane Foster
Pit Orchestra: Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra
Beer and wine will be available for purchase
Do not miss the opportunity to see so many excellent performers under one roof for one night only!
More than a dozen Special Olympics of Washington supporters just spent a long soggy day going into the water at Alki twice an hour.
This was the Super Plunge, a preview of sorts for tomorrow’s Polar Plunge. Everybody participating – mostly law enforcers – raised at least $1,500 in order to qualify as a Super Plunger. There’s still time for you to be a Polar Plunger if you show up in time for the plunge at 1 pm Saturday.
Just look for the “igloo” by Alki Bathhouse!
Don’t want to swim but do want to support Special Olympics? On Saturday, in connection with the Polar Plunge, there’s also a beer and food-truck festival, 11 am-4:30 pm, as previewed here.
The Highland Park Elementary PTA invites you to step right up and join the party under the big top at Highland Park Improvement Club on March 21st. Here’s why:
We’ve worked hard on this event! Last year we turned HPIC into Alice and Wonderland with a full-size rabbit hole and fantasy land that blew guests away. The parents have outdone themselves this year with an amazing big-top-based off the book “Night Circus” and we are really hoping to reach our $20K fundraising goal to support the enrichment activities for our kids that our Title 1 school can’t regularly provide as well as family nights that provide culturally inclusive events and community building – the heart of what our school values.
Join us for at the Night Circus!
Highland Park Elementary Fund the Future Auction
Single tickets: $40Saturday, March 21, 2020 – Highland Park Improvement Club
Tent opens at 5:30 PM…
This after-dark extravaganza brings the magic of the big top to Highland Park. Step right up to the center ring for an evening of midway games, spectacular performers, tasty carnival treats, and a show-stopping auction!
Although this fantastical circus is just for grown-ups, all proceeds go toward much needed enrichment activities for the amazing students of Highland Park Elementary. As a Title 1 school, we have a rich diversity of cultures, languages and socioeconomic backgrounds but need community support to help fund the additional academic programs and vital community engagement events that our students deserve.
Circus apparel highly encouraged but come ready to be entertained and inspired, all for a good cause!
Get your ticket today here!
Can’t attend but would like to help fund our students’ futures? Donate here!
We appreciate our local business support! If you’d like to make our auction even more amazing by donating an item and be recognized as a community sponsor, visit here!
Join hundreds of neighbors in supporting thousands of local kids and their families – WestSide Baby’s Community in Bloom brunch is approaching, and this is prime time for tickets:
We are about one month away from WestSide Baby’s signature fundraising event with a new, fresh twist – BRUNCH!
Community in Bloom – A Brunch to Benefit WestSide Baby!
Table of 10: $750
Single tickets: $75Sunday, March 22, 2020 – Sheraton Grand Seattle
Social Hour begins at 12:15 pm with Program and brunch served at 1:00 pm
We are inviting our community to gather around tables with a common goal – ensuring children have their most basic needs met! These tables can be hosted by YOU and will be filled with delicious food, refreshing beverages and inspiring connections. Plus, enjoy a VIP experience for all with mimosas, tea, coffee and delicious brunch fare to celebrate and support WestSide Baby.
Get your tickets here.
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From the West Seattle Food Bank, your invitation to this fun(draising) event:
Come out and support the West Seattle Food Bank
Friday, February 28th
At WEST SEATTLE BOWL
(6 to 8 pm)Nathan Bowls for Food!
(Is your team better than a second-grader?)
Nathan Tavel is a second-grader at Arbor Heights Elementary School, and a pretty good bowler. He will bowl for one hour from 6 to 7 and one hour from 7 to 8. Your team can choose to bowl during one or both of those times. We will add up Nathan’s total pin count for each hour and each team will have their pin total for the hour compared to Nathan’s. If you beat him you get 3 free games, shoe rental and a pitcher of beer or soda. However, if Nathan beats your team, your team must donate a minimum of $100 to the West Seattle Food Bank.
– $20 per person gets you shoe rental and 1 hour of bowling.
– Teams of 2 to 8 people are welcome.
– There will be food and drink specials and a few raffle prizes as well.
– 6 to 8 PM on Friday, February 28th at West Seattle Bowl.
Come and bowl with us for a good cause!
To RSVP – Just email ptavel@gmail.com and let us know how many you have coming and how many lanes you need. Pay on the night of the event. Call 206-949-8680 with any questions.
(Photo from February 2019 Polar Plunge, courtesy Andrew Malinak)
Saturday (February 22) is the big day: The Seattle Polar Plunge at Alki, with an all-day beer and food-truck festival, benefiting Special Olympics of Washington. The Plunge is at 1 pm; the beer tent and food trucks open at 11 am. Not registered yet? You can sign up to plunge alone or as part of a team – all the info, and the registration link, can be found here. Beer and food are separate, but you can get advance tickets for the beer festival by going here.
Forwarded by Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner:
Domestic violence is a community issue.
In the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will be victims of DV in their lifetimes.
For the last 24 years, community members have partnered Seattle Police with to address and prevent domestic violence.
The Seattle Police Department recognizes the time immediately following a police response as a critical window for survivors to make empowered choices. However, emergency support and resources are often limited and hard to access.
We need your help.
The Victim Support Team (VST) is a rewarding volunteer opportunity to offer support when it is needed the most. VST is a mobile crisis team, operating on the weekends, responding city-wide to offer on-scene and over-the-phone support. Volunteers work in teams of two and provide resource referral, safety planning, and emergency supplies.
VST is now recruiting new volunteers for their Spring Training Academy!
Deadline to submit an online application is March 11th, 2020. Volunteers must be 21+, have a Valid WA license, and pass an SPD background check. To apply or find out more, check out www.seattle.gov/police/vst.
For additional information or questions, please contact the VST Volunteer Supervisor at spd.vst@seattle.gov or call (206) 615-0892.
The Victim Support Team is committed to connecting all community members, in every neighborhood, to this unique opportunity.
For more about what the VST does, see this WSB story from 2013, when a local volunteer spoke to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
The West Seattle Food Bank sent word of a big gift from Combat Arts Academy:
The West Seattle Food Bank would like to shout out a huge thank you to the students, parents & staff of Combat Arts Academy on Delridge & in Burien for the incredible results of their annual food drive – 6000 lbs. & $190!
It’s amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it and the two students in the pictures below, Alex & Calla, are a big part of these results. They have been collecting for these food drives since 2014!
You can help WSFB any time too – start here!
A new playground at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 would benefit the Delridge neighborhood beyond the school community – and you can help make it happen. Here’s an update:
Louisa Boren’s Friends of a New Playground needs a show of community support and engagement to be eligible for a $50,000 grant that will be used to create a master plan for a school and community playground.
Currently, there are 20 volunteers that have pledged time and we need pledge support from at least 100 people. Volunteering, for this phase of the project, looks like attending meetings, providing feedback on designs, and donating supplies for meetings.
Children are encouraged to be a part of this process and they can be included in the volunteer pledge portion of the application, adding to the total hours that we need to reach to be considered for grant approval (and can count as volunteer hours for them as well!).
If you know of community members that want to see improvements to the Delridge Neighborhood, please share the link with them and get them to support our playground.
Please take a minute to fill out the online form to pledge volunteer time and support.
1. Sign up!
2. Share!
3. Show up!
For more information: louisaborenplaygroundcommittee@gmail.com
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