How to help 4469 results

West Seattle scene: Lafayette Elementary’s 2018 Walk-A-Thon

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, as Big Bird‘s old friend Mister Rogers might have said, as Lafayette Elementary‘s 2018 Walk-A-Thon unfolded throughout the day.

Kids from all grades – preschool through 5th – took turns out in the schoolyard.

Pledges were collected and the PTA hoped to eventually reach a fundraising goal of $60,000. Bake sale too!

Want to help them reach the goal? You can still contribute online.

Fundraiser at YOUR school? Please let us know so we can include it on our calendar and in our coverage!

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YOU’RE INVITED: Coho + ha-ha along Fauntleroy Creek

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(WSB archive photo)

Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens tells WSB that this year’s gathering to call the salmon home won’t just be drumming and singing – you’re invited to bring your fish jokes, too. It’s generally a short but memorable gathering, all ages welcome (if your kid[s] made salmon hats at last Sunday’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, those are extra-festive), 5 pm Sunday (October 28th) at the fish ladder at Director/Fauntleroy – upslope and across the street from the ferry dock (map).

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FRIDAY: Lafayette Leopards ready to roar, rain or shine

October 24, 2018 8:40 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

That video is from the Lafayette Elementary Walk-A-Thon nine years ago – long enough that some of those then-Lafayette Leopards have since reached adulthood! – but we’re bringing it back as a reminder that this year’s on-foot fundraiser is coming up Friday (October 26th), rain or shine, 8 am-1:30 pm! Here’s the reminder from Erika Stromberg of the Lafayette PTA:

Students collect pledges to raise funds for our PTA and walk or run laps for 30 minutes on Friday! We invite community members to support our school Walk-A-Thon! For more information, visit our web site: lafayettepta.com/walkathon

We hope to reach our goal of $60,000 by Friday! We have raised $28,000 so far! Local businesses may also donate to our student Bake Sale, which takes place during the Walk-A-Thon on Friday. Thank you to all our Sponsors including West Seattle Blog for supporting our school!

Lafayette is on the northwest corner of California and Lander if you want to stop by and cheer, donate, and/or buy a bake-sale treat Friday.

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SATURDAY: Dance, drink, dine to support West Seattle Community Orchestras’ student musicians

October 23, 2018 1:40 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Don’t have party plans set yet for this Saturday night? It’s your next chance to have a good time for a good cause. The West Seattle Community Orchestras rely on community generosity to help make it possible for student musicians to play for free. Here are the newest party details:

Rummage through your costume collection and then plan to join West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) for its annual gala fundraiser in support of free participation in our orchestras for student musicians!

The West Seattle Big Band will once again provide music for dancing—and just plain good listening!

(WSB photo, WS Big Band at last Sunday’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival)

Very special items for our silent and live auctions have been donated by our generous supporters. Here’s a small sample:

Canlis | Seattle Shakespeare Theatre | Boehm’s Candy Kitchen | Beer Junction | Chihuly Garden | MoPOP | Kenyon Hall | Seattle Storm | Lake Union Civic Orchestra | PlantAmnesty | Seafair | Countryside Café | Elliott Bay Brewery | Ivar’s| Caffe Ladro | Pagliacci Pizza | Bakery Nouveau

Here’s the agenda:

6:00-7:15: Doors open, cocktail reception, silent auctions, entertainment by WSCO musicians
7:15: Buffet dinner served
7:55-8:40: Live auction, raise the paddle, dessert dash
8:40++: Dancing to the West Seattle Big Band!

Your support will help WSCO continue to provide FREE participation and instruction in orchestral music for our student musicians.

Here’s the important info:

— Saturday, October 27, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
— Alki Masonic Lodge, 4736 40th Ave. SW.
— Adults 18+ $40, children 6-17 and seniors $25

Plan to have fun while supporting this vital West Seattle resource! REGISTER & PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE. Tickets also available at the door. Costumed or not, don’t forget your dancing shoes!

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First beer, now boxes: See what’s just been added to help save West Seattle Junction ‘free’ parking

October 20, 2018 6:34 pm

| 45 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you go out for dinner and/or drinks in The Junction tonight – or head to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow – you might notice boxes like that one in the Junction Association-operated “free parking lots.” The five boxes, installed this afternoon, are the newest fundraising tool in the effort to keep those lots available and free.

While WSJA says its agreement with the lots’ owners, Trusteed Properties, doesn’t allow charging for parking, this is strictly a request for donations. Can’t or don’t want to donate? No problem. You can still park for free for up to three hours as always. But if you can donate – bring a few bucks next time you’re headed that way, and look for the boxes.

BACKSTORY: The fundraising push is an attempt to help cover a dramatically higher property-tax bill for the lots that’s passed through to the Junction Association and the community businesses that comprise it. They’ve secured a temporary reprieve from the county, which collects property taxes, but that runs out soon. Other fundraisers so far have included Save Our Lots beer and online donations. If your business wants to show its support – here’s a kit!

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YOU CAN HELP: Illusions Hair Design book drive for kids/families via local nonprofits

October 19, 2018 3:28 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW; WSB sponsor) is collecting books for local kids and families through November 15th! Here’s the announcement:

We’re having a BOOK DRIVE
for
The West Seattle Helpline
&
The West Seattle Food Bank Library

*NEW BOOKS* for kids of all ages… Along with simple recipe Cookbooks! (Easy, family meals such as: soups or casseroles, or fun kids’ recipes are what they’re looking for.) Drop off your donations here at the salon in our great big BLUE barrel!

THANK YOU!!

*(They do prefer NEW books, but gently used/barely read are ok too! They just want to make sure that they are clean, and free of moisture & debris. NEW books are often gifted to kids in need through the Helpline, whereas the gently used are used to fill the Food Bank library shelves.)

Illusions is open until 6 tonight, closed weekends, but open until 8:30 pm three weeknights, so you have plenty of options for dropoff. (Hours are on the Illusions website.)

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Help make holiday wishes come true: WestSide Baby and Childhaven need temporary space

October 19, 2018 9:58 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

If you have even a suggestion for WestSide Baby about this, executive director Nancy Woodland would love to hear from you ASAP:

Together, WestSide Baby and Childhaven are looking for space to rent for one month to fill holiday wish-lists for children as well as to extend the holiday giving spirit to help children all year long. We hope to solidify this location by October 25th.

These two organizations are partnering to execute the collection and distribution of a “giving tree” program that will benefit children served by Childhaven for the holidays and then will also benefit children served through WestSide Baby’s 114 other partner agencies helping children year-round.

Time frame needed: December 1st – December 31st (including set up and break down)

Ideal location areas: SODO, Georgetown, White Center, West Seattle or Central area Central/South Seattle areas

Space: Minimum of 3000-4000 sq ft of “open” space with parking for 3-4 cars and easy access to double wide or roll-up doors accessible without stairs (rolling carts)

Price: Up to $2000 considered (and holiday giving spirit encouraged too!)

For approximately 2 weeks, (roughly Dec 5 – Dec 20th), the space would be used for:

The drop off of and storage of new items donated through Childhaven “giving tree” collection drives. Drop off generally by private vehicles.

Volunteer and staff activity (most days 3-4 people and occasionally “group” days with 10-15 people sorting donations and filling specific wish lists for children

Items would then be picked up by staff and volunteers to fill “wishes” with the excess inventory being packed up and returned to WestSide Baby for distribution over time.

You can reach Nancy with offers or even suggestions at at nancy@westsidebaby.org or 206-686-3228.

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West Seattle schools: Highland Park Elementary Move-A-Thon in the fall sunshine

October 16, 2018 8:33 pm

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| Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Highland Park Elementary PTA president Laura Olson for the photos and report:

The sun was shining for Highland Park Elementary’s second annual Move-A-Thon! Students wore their own individually tie-dyed spirit wear as they walked, skipped, and ran to the cheers of staff and parents.

A big thanks to our PTA volunteers who made this event possible and our sponsor Rain City West Screen Printing. While this was primarily a fitness celebration, it’s also a fundraiser. If you want to support the HPE PTA in it’s continuing good works, you are welcome to contribute!

Here’s how.

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VIDEO: Music and theater education for all! A night to celebrate and support Mode Music and Performing Arts

October 14, 2018 1:49 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Too often, music and theater are seen as “extra” for kids – but the benefits prove they should be considered essential. That’s why Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) proprietor Erin Rubin launched a nonprofit offshoot, Mode Music and Performing Arts, to provide it to more youth. A party last night at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center not only raised money for MMPA, it also showcased some of Mode’s students, like Ellie and Sophia:

The party’s emcee was Troy Nelson, who you probably know best from KEXP. Erin joined him onstage to express gratitude for the support they’re receiving in MMPA’s mission:

If you couldn’t be there but want to support MMPA’s quest to bring performing-arts education to more schools, you can donate online any time.

ADDED 3:42 PM: Update from Erin: “We had such a great night! We raised over $2500 for music and performing arts education in the schools and will continue to do so thanks to the support of our community.”

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The auction item you never realized you needed, and other reasons to be at White Center Food Bank’s Harvest Dinner

October 13, 2018 4:34 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

(Photos courtesy White Center Food Bank)

Could be the ultimate home decoration … a fire hydrant. It’s one of the auction items up for bids one week from tonight at this year’s Harvest Dinner and Auction benefiting White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle too. Here’s the reminder:

The White Center Food Bank’s 14th Annual Harvest Dinner & Auction fundraiser is October 20th from 6 PM – 10 PM at the Brockey Center at South Seattle College. The theme is “Back to Our Roots,” signifying the return of the WCFB auction back to its neighborhood after being in various venues the past few years.

Keeping with the theme, WCFB will have a former customer of the food bank share her story and what role the food bank played in her getting connected to achieve her personal and professional goals.

The food bank’s new Executive Director will address the audience, as will the board president and a local partner, CitySoil Farm.

Featured items in the Live Auction include a fire hydrant from KC Water District 20, Seattle’s “other” sports package, a week-long stay at a timeshare in Mexico or Florida, and a farm to table dinner for 12 at WCFB’s onsite Grow2Give Garden.

Tickets are $75. Get them here. Questions? Please email: auction@whitecenterfoodbank.org or call 206-717-2531.

P.S. Follow the ticket link to preview dozens of other auction items too!

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Do it for the Southern Resident Killer Whales: Be part of Duwamish Alive!

October 10, 2018 12:19 pm

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| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from spring 2018 Duwamish Alive!)

One week from Saturday, the fall multi-site Duwamish Alive! event asks you to spend a few hours helping the river, which also will help the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales who need the salmon supported by healthy habitat. Here’s the reminder:

What is the connection between the Duwamish River and our local Orca? The Duwamish River is home to 5 species of salmon, including the vital Chinook, which is a critical food source for Puget Sound Orca. Orca depend on the dwindling Chinook runs for the majority of their diet, and Chinook depend on healthy salmon habitat in the Duwamish.

Duwamish Alive! on October 20th will have volunteers working throughout the Duwamish Watershed to improve the health of our green spaces, creeks and especially our Duwamish River, which provide salmon critical habitat. Volunteers are needed at many local sites which provide critical habitat for our community and our river.

Duwamish Alive! celebrates the connection of our urban parks and open spaces to our river, wildlife and community. Starting at 10:00 am, volunteers of all ages, at multiple Duwamish sites throughout the watershed from river to forest, will participate in a day of major cleanup and habitat restoration in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and orca.

A special opening ceremony will be held at T107 Park, across from the Duwamish Longhouse at 10:00, with special honoring of George Blumberg and Willard Brown for their work in restoring the Duwamish.

Opening Ceremonies:

T107 Park 9:45 – 10:30 am
Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribe
James Rasmussen, Presentation of Honors
Chris Wilke from Puget Soundkeeper, Stewardship
Sameer Ranade from Front and Centered Highlighting I-1631

Longfellow Creek at Greg Davis Park 10 am
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon from the 34th District, State House

Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation groups, businesses, and government entities, recognizing that our collective efforts are needed to make lasting, positive improvements in the health and vitality of the Green-Duwamish Watershed. Twice a year these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at 14 sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of Seattle and Tukwila communities.

To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and to the contact for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org This is a family-friendly event for all ages – tools, instruction and snacks are provided.

The two sites with opening ceremonies are only two of many along the river and its watershed.

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TONIGHT: Learn how to help salmon by looking for them

October 10, 2018 12:23 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(WSB photo from November 2014)

Again this fall, Puget Soundkeeper is hoping for help with its salmon survey. There’s an orientation tonight (Wednesday) for potential volunteers. Here’s the announcement, including how to RSVP:

Puget Soundkeeper is searching for dedicated volunteers to survey the Coho salmon that return to Longfellow Creek in West Seattle.

During the salmon run each fall, a population of Coho salmon enters the Duwamish River from Elliott Bay, and then swims up Longfellow Creek to spawn. As Coho migrate through urbanized waterways like Longfellow, they encounter a chemical cocktail of toxic runoff from roadways and other paved surfaces. These chemicals severely disorient adult Coho and result in “pre-spawn mortality” in many individuals, meaning the salmon die before reproducing. Previous surveys conducted by the City of Seattle and NOAA on Longfellow Creek have found pre-spawn mortality rates of up to 90% amongst females, an alarmingly high statistic. Examining the number of salmon that return to Longfellow Creek every year and documenting the pre-spawn mortality rate are great indicators of the health of our local waterways. Data gathered from these surveys shared with NOAA, the City of Seattle, Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County.

Volunteers will attend an orientation meeting (tonight) Wednesday, October 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm in West Seattle.

Requirements:

· The nature of this work is geared toward adults only.

· Surveying is a weekly commitment that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The salmon run begins in mid-October and finishes mid-December, during which there will be a survey every day. Volunteers will be divided into teams of 2-3 people and assigned a weekday to conduct their survey.

· We’re looking for adventurous volunteers! Surveying requires handling fish carcasses found in the creek (with gloves) and dissecting the female salmon to check for eggs.

· Volunteers should be in good physical condition. Surveying in Longfellow Creek requires climbing up and down steep muddy embankments and wading through shallow water on uneven terrain.

· Surveying is conducted in varying weather conditions. If conditions are dangerous (e.g. a downpour), we will cancel on that day. Otherwise, we survey rain or shine.

· Volunteers will be provided with surveying kits and waders (unless you have your own pair). Data collected during the survey will be uploaded by the volunteers into Puget Soundkeeper’s database.

Salmon surveys are a great way to observe one of nature’s most amazing migrations and experience scientific field work. The data we collect from these surveys help us understand the effects of toxic runoff on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species and determine the best methods to protect them in the future!

RSVP here: pugetsoundkeeper.org/event/salmon-monitoring-at-longfellow-creek-west-seattle

Contact Morgan (morgan@pugetsoundkeeper.org) with additional questions.

Morgan can tell you where to be for tonight’s orientation, too!

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Impact West Seattle: New giving group about to launch

October 9, 2018 1:42 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Photo courtesy Impact West Seattle. L-R, founding members Rachel Lazar, Robin Graham, Amy Huey, Rachel Hagenson, Kristen Corning Bedford)

Ever wonder what more you can do to help with community needs, beyond random occasional donations? Here’s a new option: A women’s giving group called Impact West Seattle is launching with an event one week from today. One of the group’s founding members, Rachel Lazar, tells WSB, “Our hope is that this group will bring together this community which has grown so much over the past few years, and to give women who want to engage and give back that opportunity.” Here’s how it works. The kickoff meeting is at 7 pm October 16th at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale), and its goal is explained here; if you aren’t able to be there, you can still join Impact West Seattle by going here. Questions? Here’s the FAQ.

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Days until first-ever Monster Bash for Mode Music and Performing Arts

October 8, 2018 9:45 am

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Get your Halloween season going this Saturday by being part of a first-ever West Seattle event – the first Monster Bash fundraiser for nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts!

It’s MMPA’s first year of providing music and performing-arts education at Title I schools including Highland Park and Roxhill Elementaries, along with partial and full scholarships for families in need, all intended “to create equity in arts programming within our educational system.” And they’re raising money by offering you a night of food, drinks, music, theater, and fun! KEXP DJ Troy Nelson is hosting. Tickets are only $20 in advance ($25 at the door); the party’s happening at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30-10 pm Saturday (October 13th). Get your ticket(s) online now!

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LAST CALL! Here’s how to be one of this year’s ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’

October 4, 2018 9:00 am

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Got your ticket(s) for Neighbors Helping Neighbors, the West Seattle Helpline fundraising dinner that’s now eight days away? Ticket sales end tomorrow (Friday). Helping the Helpline means you’re helping prevent homelessness; providing emergency assistance to help people stay in their homes is a big part of what the nonprofit does. Your ticket gets you a seat at the 6 pm October 12th event at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), which starts with music, a cocktail hour, and silent auction, continuing through dinner, a live auction, and dessert dash. Tickets are available online here.

P.S. If you voted for WS Helpline in the recent HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) grant competition, a big thanks from WSH – they won!

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West Seattle preschool A Child Becomes launches its biggest service project ever, hoping you’ll be part of it

September 26, 2018 3:52 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The nonprofit preschool A Child Becomes (WSB sponsor) in North Admiral is teaching its students a lifelong lesson … helping others. They hope the wider West Seattle community will assist – you can watch the short video above to see why.

The preschool’s director, Michelle “Teacher Shelley” Neal, has educated thousands of students since founding A Child Becomes 30 years ago, and has witnessed daily how a quality early education can make a huge difference in young people’s lives. The curriculum blends education and outreach; Shelley and her staff teach social emotional skills, literacy, math, science, foreign language, and involve their students in numerous service projects each year. The school explains that “Shelley believes that practicing compassion, teaching it, and giving the students a chance to also practice compassion ‘hands on’ can help make us all happier more connected people. The service projects at A Child Becomes are a huge part of their curriculum.”

Now they’ve launched the biggest one yet: Building a preschool in South Africa.

That’s where Shelley’s husband Ralph is from, so for more than 20 years, they have traveled there each year. The school says:

Shelley and Ralph have witnessed the extensive poverty in South Africa that still continues after apartheid. They personally have always wanted to do something to help. There is an enormous gap between the wealthy and the poor in South Africa. There is a tremendous amount of corruption in the government and the Department of Education do not provide funds to most of the black children in the country. Unfortunately many of the children who are lucky enough to go to school, enter underprepared and drop out by 4th grade.

Shelley and Ralph chose to build a preschool in a region they felt, through statistics, has the most need. This area is in the Eastern Cape, the region where the Xhosa nation lives and that was also Nelson Mandela’s homeland. This unique opportunity to help young children who desperately need access to early education is also a way for the children of South Africa to connect their compassion to children across the world. Teacher Shelley is finally building her dream.

She visited the area in July and tells the story here of meeting the children that the “sister school” will serve – read about it here. But her dream is bigger than just one location, as explained here. And yes, she and her school already have service projects close to home – via programs including the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Backpack Program, Toys for Tots, and the seniors at Brookdale Admiral Heights.

Last school year they began their involvement in REACH! South Africa by collecting shoes, clothing, and classroom supplies. Now they’re expanding to a community campaign to help set up the first efficiently planned preschool – and scrolling down this page, you’ll see how, as well as how you can help, if you choose to. The benefits for the West Seattle students of A Child Becomes are explained too.

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YOU CAN HELP! Fauntleroy Creek’s fall salmon-watching starts soon

September 26, 2018 1:57 pm

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| Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(2012 WSB photo)

Last year, four salmon spawners were spotted in Fauntleroy Creek. But each fall, hopes run high and anything can happen – it’s only been six years since 274 showed up in 2012. Right now, watershed stewards are seeking more volunteers to help keep watch. Here’s the announcement from Judy Pickens:

Whether or not coho spawners come into Fauntleroy Creek always depends on their having survived saltwater conditions. If they do come in, watchers need to be on duty to document them.

This year’s watch will start October 22 and continue until mid-November or until no more spawners have come in for one week.

Spawners are most likely to be present in the fish-ladder area during the five hours after daytime high tide, so the watch window varies day to day. Using a simple form, volunteers document activity for a half hour. Written details and a brief training session will be provided to new watchers.

Children are welcome with a parent, and teens may watch on their own. For questions and to sign up, email judy_pickens@msn.com or call 206-938-4203.

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HAPPENING NOW: Need game snacks? Hurricane-help bake sale is on!

September 23, 2018 12:06 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news

Thanks to Tom for sending the photos from Ysabel‘s hurricane-help bake sale, on now in Gatewood – pick up some treats for the game! More than cookies, we found out via this update from Ysabel’s mom. And here

Ysabel’s planning to be at the corner of California/Portland (map) until 3 pm. Even if you don’t want a baked treat and/or cider, you can make a donation that’ll be stretched thanks to a match from Ysabel’s family (who then will get their employers to match too).

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HAPPENING NOW: 2 more days to help West Seattle Helpline

September 21, 2018 4:18 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Bob from HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) and Tracey from the West Seattle Helpline are at Junction True Value right now to say hi to shoppers and share a reminder: You have until Sunday (September 23rd) to vote for the Helpline to get a bigger grant from HomeStreet! We first told you nine days ago that Helpline – which among other things helps prevent homelessness by providing emergency help to people in need – would get a grant between $3,000 and $10,000 from HomeStreet, depending on results of online voting. If you haven’t voted yet, take a moment and go here to do it!

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YOU CAN HELP! Hurricane-fundraising cookies and cider Sunday

September 21, 2018 10:57 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news

(September 2017)

Last September, Ysabel and friends had a roadside stand to raise money for hurricane survivors. This year again, sadly, storm survivors need help, so she’ll be out raising money this Sunday (September 23rd), 11 am-3 pm, at California/Portland in Gatewood (map). Stop by for cider and cookies. Ysabel’s family plans to match donations and then seek matches from their employers, so whatever you can donate will be stretched!

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You can help! Here’s a FUN* way to volunteer

September 20, 2018 11:49 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Seattle Audubon)

You don’t have to leave the city to enjoy nature – or to teach kids about it, which is the goal of a Seattle Audubon looking right now for West Seattle volunteers. The announcement, from Wendy Walker:

Do you know how spiders navigate their own webs without getting stuck, or why tree leaves are different shapes? Explore these and other fun science topics with Seattle Audubon’s *FUN (Finding Urban Nature) program.

The FUN program introduces 3rd-grade students to the nature in their schoolyard habitat and examines how each organism depends on others to survive. Volunteers lead small groups of four to seven students through a series of outdoor investigations, which teach kids to use their senses and scientific practices to discover the importance of urban biodiversity firsthand.

Four lessons in the fall and four more in the spring give students the opportunity to build knowledge and observe seasonal changes in their schoolyard habitats. We are currently recruiting for volunteers for the fall lessons at Sanislo, Lafayette, and Genesee Hill Elementary Schools.

A volunteer training will be held in early October at Genesee Hill, and in-school lessons will be held at each school beginning in October.

Interested? E-mail Wendy at FUNvolunteer@seattleaudubon.org to receive an application and schedules.

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Bring diapers to Holy Rosary School’s WestFest ‘carnival of community’ Friday and Saturday

September 12, 2018 2:26 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Your next chance to help WestSide Baby amass diapers for local babies/toddlers in need is just days away. This year Holy Rosary School is holding a diaper drive throughout its WestFest festival – 6-10 pm Friday, 10 am-10 pm Saturday at the school, off SW Genesee north of 42nd SW. From organizers:

Did you know you can’t use food stamps to buy diapers and most day cares require you bring your own? An undiapered child is a health and safety concern that affects our entire community. That’s why we’re holding a diaper drive in support of WestSide Baby.

You’ll find collection bins all around the festival grounds. (Not familiar with WS Baby? Here’s what they do.) While you’re there, enjoy WestFest – games, rides, entertainment, food!

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You can help, quickly! West Seattle Helpline’s up for something big

September 12, 2018 10:35 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

While people bicker over what should be done to alleviate homelessness, you don’t hear as much about people working to prevent it. That’s a big part of what the West Seattle Helpline does – emergency assistance to help people stay in their homes. Every dollar counts toward that work, and that’s why the Helpline is so excited about being in the HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) Vote Your Heart final three – they’re guaranteed to get at least $3,000 from HomeStreet, but if they get enough votes, that could grow to as much as $10,000. Take a moment and vote by going here. (You’ll be asked for your email address but it will not be shared nor used for marketing – it’s just used to enforce one vote per person.) Voting continues until September 23rd, but go get yours in now.