(Photo from seattleymca.org)

Though it’s more than 60 miles from here, Camp Colman – operated by the Greater Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – has multiple ties to West Seattle. Many local kids go there for their first overnight camping experience. And now the Y is raising money to add four cabins to the camp – with some of the namesakes locally linked, too. First, here’s the Y’s announcement:

Four new proposed cabins at the YMCA’s Camp Colman means 2,000 more youth and families will have the opportunity to experience the fun and growth that only happens at camp. The Y will name one cabin in honor of former Camp Director, George Nichols. Only through community support can the Y reach their $150,000 per cabin goal. You can give to Camp Colman at seattleymca.org/CampGive.

Camp Colman sits in the southern Puget Sound’s Case Inlet. Each year thousands of campers make new friends, learn responsibility skills, try new things, unplug from screens, enjoy swimming and boating in the lagoon, and skits around the campfire. The four new proposed cabins will allow thousands of more campers to get off waitlists and into the outdoors.

One cabin will be named after former Camp Director George Nichols. For many campers and leaders, the Nichols family is synonymous with Camp Colman. Nichols has been a key mentor, role model, and camp director for generations of campers. He served as the Program Director, Physical Director, Camp Colman Director, and Camping Services Executive Director for more than thirty years.

“George Nichols has left an indelible mark on Camp Colman campers,” recalled community member Anne Bentrott-Wise. “All my children and grandchildren went to Camp Colman in part because of his leadership. The time has come to honor George and his family with the building of the Nichols Cabin, and we are excited to offer our support.”

Two other new cabins are named Cruzen and Bosco (Bostrom & Code). Construction is planned to start this spring and reach completion in the fall. In addition to the four new cabins, the Y is raising money for a new marine education center, and purchase of 20 additional acres adjacent to Camp Colman. You can learn more about other Y camp improvements as part of the Opportunities for All campaign at seattleymca.org/new-improved-overnight-camps. Join the Camp Colman fundraising victory event at Fauntleroy Church on March 30 at 9:30 a.m. RSVP by emailing campinfo@seattleymca.org by March 20.

Camp Colman is dedicated to strengthening community by nurturing the potential of youth, promoting healthy living and fostering social responsibility. If you have questions, please contact Director of Philanthropy, Magill Dickerson-Lange, mlange@seattleymca.org.

The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s newest quarterly edition of Neighbors has further explanation of the cabin namesakes’ local links:

Dating from 1912 when the Colman family began inviting Fauntleroy youth to their summer home on Horsehead Bay, the camp moved to its present site in the mid-60s. George’s YMCA tenure was from 1963 to 2002. … Construction will start this spring and include two other cabins funded to honor long-time Fauntleroy families. “Cruzen” is made possible by a generous gift from Adah Cruzen honoring Earl and the Cruzen family. The other, dubbed the “Bosco” cabin, will honor the Al and Pearl Bostrom family and Alki’s Bob and Mary Code family. Al was youth director at the downtown YMCA and Bob currently serves on the Y’s Camping & Outdoor Leadership Board.

It’s time for the door-to-door food drive known as Scouting for Food – many local homes will get doorhangers this weekend with word that Scouts will pick up bags of food left for the drive next weekend (or soon – sometimes the dates very). First to send us an announcement, Pack 284:

On Saturday, March 16th, 10 am to 12 pm, Cub Scout Pack 284 will be collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, in the neighborhood west of 35th Ave, between Othello and Morgan. Scouts will be distributing door hangers the week prior (March 9) to help spread the word.

Anyone in this neighborhood who wishes to donate can simply leave donations by front door by 9:30 am on March 16th, and Scouts from our pack will pick it up!

The most needed items are:
– Low-Sodium Canned Meats
– Canned Fruits (in water)
– Low-Sodium Canned Vegetables
– Low-Sodium Beans
– Peanut Butter
– Canned Tuna/Chicken/Turkey/Salmon
– Rice/Pasta/Noodles
– Low Sodium Soup/Stew/Chili/Tomatoes
– Ensure
– Toiletries (Toothpaste, Soap, Deodorant Shampoo/Conditioner – Sample sizes)
– Pet Food
– Baby Food & Formula
– Diapers (all sizes, but especially 4, 5, and 6)

This annual drive has been a great experience for the Scouts, and wonderful way to help folks in need.

Thank you to everyone who can pitch in to this worthy cause!

– The Parents, Leaders, and Scouts of Cub Scout Pack 284 (West Seattle)

Any other packs/troops? Let us know!

Joyce and Rick have been doing this for a decade and asked if we could help get the word out:

Volunteer drivers are needed for Sound Generations Volunteer Transportation program. Using their own vehicles, volunteer drivers help older adults maintain their independence by taking them to necessary medical appointments. Clients appreciate their improved access to medical care, meaningful interactions with caring volunteers, and increased peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the program does not have enough drivers to meet the demand for transportation from vulnerable seniors. If you have the “drive” to help others, a clean driving record, and some daytime availability, call (206) 748-7588, email Diana at dianas@soundgenerations.org, or visit soundgenerations.org/get-involved/volunteer to find out more. Discover why rides change lives!

Sound Generations is a nonprofit that serves seniors in a variety of ways and places around King County, including at the Senior Center of West Seattle.

12:34 PM: Thanks to Marco for tweeting the photo – that Girl Scout troop is outside West Seattle Trader Joe’s until 2 pm, one of multiple locations and times you’ll find Girl Scout Cookies over the next two weeks. Just use the finder on the Girl Scouts of Western Washington website. Here are the cookies they’re offering this year. (Is your troop out selling too? Send us a pic!)

ADDED 1:18 PM: This troop’s at Admiral Safeway until 2:

Thanks to Patrick for tweeting that photo.

West Seattle Helpline shares that video invitation as tickets go on sale for the most delicious fundraiser of the year.

(WSB photo from 2018 Taste of West Seattle)

Here’s the announcement:

We are excited to announce tickets to the 14th annual Taste of West Seattle are now on sale!

This local, community-based food fair 6-9 pm May 23rd at The Hall at Fauntleroy is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle. We will feature food and drink from over 40 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, specialty food stores, and more!

The Taste of West Seattle has drawn a sell-out crowd of more than 500 people from West Seattle and throughout King County for the past five years in a row. All proceeds from the event support the West Seattle Helpline’s homelessness-prevention emergency assistance programs for low-income individuals and families in West Seattle and White Center who are recovering from an unexpected hardship.

You can find out more information, and buy tickets at tasteofwestseattle.org

Here’s our coverage of last year’s Taste of West Seattle.

Now that it’s March, spring is in sight. On one of the first nights of the new season, you’re invited to a tropical-themed celebration on behalf of Concord International Elementary – here’s the announcement:

Join us March 22nd for our annual dinner party and auction—an evening of great food, drinks, live music, and live and silent auctions supporting the Concord International Elementary PTA in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Seattle — South Park!

All proceeds go toward the support of educational programs for children at Concord Elementary, a high-poverty school in our neighborhood.

Treat yourself to an evening of fun while helping to provide high-quality educational opportunities to children in South Park. See you there!

The event starts at 7 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale). Your ticket is available here.

Back on Saturday, we showed you volunteers from Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) getting ready to take a truckload of donated furnishings and other items to a family exiting homelessness to permanent housing South King County. The organization that Tibbetts worked with, Mary’s Place, shared photos of what happened next. Above and below, the volunteers arrived at the location and got everything unloaded.

Later, the delighted family was there – including this little girl:

They had this message for the volunteers/donors:

If you’re interested, here’s more about the Mary’s Place program through which Tibbetts helped this family:

When a family experiencing homelessness enters a Mary’s Place shelter, they often have only a few possessions with them. Many of their belongings, including dishes, knickknacks, lamps, even treasured family photos, are left behind.

Families don’t always get to choose where they live, and while moving into a new house is an exciting step forward, ensuring that families feel supported by the community, and helping to make their new house feel like a home is integral to long-term success. By providing basic furniture items for a family in their new apartment, groups can stand beside these families and welcome them home!

Groups are asked to provide a minimum of a sofa, beds, and a dining room table and chairs. Other items, like lamps, coffee table, kitchen essentials, sheets/blankets, television, art/decorations, toys, etc. are always appreciated!

Mary’s Place can provide the family connection, the group collects, stores, and delivers the items to the family. For more info, contact Irina Pastushok at 458-202-9686 or irina@marysplaceseattle.org.

At right is On Safari Foods proprietor Teresa Carew, with Judi Yazzolino of the West Seattle Food Bank, who reports that On Safari just gave WSFB’s Backpack Program a big boost, by raising $10,000 to support it. The fundraiser was part of On Safari’s annual Open House this past Thursday night in SODO (where the catering company moved eight years ago after outgrowing its West Seattle HQ). Judi says WSFB is grateful to Teresa, her crew, and “very generous guests” for their support. According to On Safari, the money was raised through a combination of cash donations at the door, a raffle, and a silent auction. The company already supports the Food Bank by donating leftover food. Now it’s given a big assist to the Backpack Program, which sends six “kid-friendly, nutritious, non-perishable, easy to prepare and eat” meals home every weekend with students in need.

P.S. You can support the Food Bank by attending another big event coming up in SODO – its annual Instruments of Change dinner/auction on May 11th.

(Photos provided by WestSide Baby, showing their White Center HQ)

The snow has affected us all in a variety of ways … especially people in need and the nonprofits who serve them. Here are two ways you can help one local nonprofit, WestSide Baby, get back up to speed:

WestSide Baby provides essential items to local families in need. We have been closed for 6 days in the past two weeks. This means volunteers, staff (mostly) and donations have not been able to get to us. At the same time, the children and families we serve are also experiencing this horrendous weather, shut in time, lost wages and the diapers continue to be needed! (Letter from Executive Director Nancy Woodland here.)

Please consider sending diapers to help the families inevitably hit hard by lost wages or donate $$ now and we will do that for you.

And please volunteer to help us fill orders for families!

Thursday: Valentine’s Day/Night Out February 14 11 am-8 pm
Saturday: Special additional hours 1-4 pm
Monday: Presidents Day 10-1 (possibly longer if interest)

Please email Volunteer@Westsidebaby.org if you are interested. It’s also super helpful if you fill out this application. If you are sending minors age 14-17, without an adult, they need to fill out a Minor Consent Form.

Although parking on the street is still a bit of a challenge (4×4 vehicles fine), we have shoveled out the parking lot; we invite anyone 9-99 yrs old who wants to volunteer to come!

Volunteer work is at WS Baby’s White Center HQ, 10002 14th Avenue SW.

As we’ve shown you before – the West Seattle Food Bank is also a book bank! And more books are needed – maybe you can take some over before the next storm, or perhaps you can spend some time sorting through yours while you’re indoors this weekend. From Judi Yazzolino at WSFB:

The West Seattle Food Bank’s Bookcase Program is in need of all kinds of gently used books, especially for children ages 5 years old and younger. Our Bookcase Program is growing tremendously, having distributed over 11,000 adult and children books thanks to generous donations from individuals and business in our community. Our clients are very appreciative of the program, where they can take home up to 10 books to keep.

Donation hours are Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm and we are located at 3419 SW Morgan St. on the corner of 35th & Morgan. Enter through our garage on Morgan and come in through the double doors. Our volunteers will be glad to help you with your donation. Thank you so much.

(Photos courtesy Judi Yazzolino)

As promised, we have an update on Saturday’s big food-drive kickoff, courtesy of West Seattle Food Bank development director Judi Yazzolino, with a reminder that more donations are welcome:

The West Seattle Food Bank would like to thank Northwest Harvest for setting up the kickoff of their statewide Food Drive with Safeway & Albertsons at the Admiral Safeway on Saturday, and Seahawks Wide Receiver Doug Baldwin and former Seahawks Cliff Avril & Richard Sherman for coming to support and offer autographs and pictures to those who donated food.

Everyone had so much fun and we collected over 1,700 pounds of food & $125, half of which came to the West Seattle Food Bank, and half went with the US Coast Guard, whose representatives were extremely helpful in helping load it all into the vans. Thank you to everyone who put this event together, who came and donated food and especially to Doug, Cliff, & Richard for giving us your time and support!

This food drive was set up to help all of the furloughed federal employees, contractors, and other business owners and employees affected by the government shutdown. We also want to be sure and help those individuals that we serve who received their food stamps two weeks early on January 20th and may be running low by next week. There are West Seattle Food Bank barrels at the Admiral Safeway by checkout where you can continue to donate to help those in need.

The store is at 2622 California SW.