(Photos courtesy WestSide Baby)

Volunteering is often described as “lending a hand.” A multigenerational group of women did just that today at WestSide Baby in honor of National Volunteer Week. Among them: centenarian and “knitter extraordinaire” Virginia Carmichael, a volunteer visiting from The Kenney:

She and others from The Kenney visited to drop off hand-knit items for babies in need. WestSide Baby says she “has been knitting as much as one baby sweater per week for 5 years for WestSide Baby.” Several other residents from The Kenney “regularly create garments and quilts to keep their littlest neighbors safe, warm and dry,” explains Jess Sweetman of WS Baby.

The knitters’ creations were exhibited at The Kenney recently before being taken to WS Baby. Virginia says she’s volunteered all her life, going back to her days as a Girl Scout. She told WS Baby that she likes to keep busy and “benefits as much from making the sweaters as the children who receive them.”

The announcement of today’s donation visit also quotes WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland (at right in the second photo above) as saying, “We are so excited to celebrate these very dedicated and talented volunteers and everything that they do to support kids in our community. We are privileged to be a part of an incredible community of support made up of over 1,800 volunteers who dedicated over 18,000 hours of service last year. Volunteering benefits our entire community.”

Thinking about volunteering for WestSide Baby? Here’s how.

Fighting hunger in West Seattle is done in many ways – including donating food and/or money, volunteering – and here’s one more way you can help. WSB is among the sponsors for this year’s Instruments of Change event, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank, which shares this update and invitation:

It’s just 4 weeks until the West Seattle Food Bank’s biggest fundraiser, the 10th Annual Instruments of Change Dinner/Auction on Saturday, May 13th at the Seattle Design Center. The West Seattle Food Bank plays an important role in our West Seattle Community. This fundraiser will ensure that the programs provided to those in need will continue. Programs like the new “Shopping Model” distribution that better meets the needs of the diverse population that the WSFB serves; the Mobile Food Bank, which brings nutritious food to the homes of homebound seniors and disabled individuals; the Backpack Program that provides schoolchildren at risk of hunger with kid-friendly meals for the weekend; the Baby & Child Corner that distributes diapers, formula, baby food, and other important items to help infants & toddlers get a good start in life; or the Community Connections that help families access additional information and services from dozens of partner organizations.

Instruments of Change is a fun event featuring a hosted happy hour, Bourbon & Tequila tastings, silent & live auctions, a delicious dinner by Tuxedo & Tennis Shoes Catering, dessert dash, Funds for Food, and a program awarding Metropolitan Market and their customers with the Instrument of Change Award.

Please join us! You have 2 more weeks until April 28th to get the early bird price of $100/guest or $1000/table of 10. On April 29th, tickets will go to $120/guest and $1200/table. Purchase your tickets and get more information on Instruments of Change at westseattlefoodbank.ejoinme.org/InstrumentsofChange.

For more information on sponsorships or auction donations, please contact Judi Yazzolino, WSFB Development Director at 206.932.9023 or judi@westseattlefoodbank.org.

This year’s West Seattle Junction Day of Giving – with many businesses giving part of their proceeds to local nonprofits – is coming up in less than three weeks. For most, all you have to do is show up and shop that day. For salon/shop VAIN (4513 California SW), you also have the chance to make appointments now for an extra round of giving during the week before. Here’s the announcement:

As part of the Junction Day of Giving, VAIN will be donating 10% of retail sales on April 29th to the West Seattle Senior Center. We will have sales specials and gifts with purchase.

In addition, we have select haircut appointments available April 23-29th, with 100% of the service cost to be donated. For more information or to book an appointment please call VAIN at 206-535-2595 and request a haircut to support the Senior Center. Haircuts are available with the following stylists; Sam, Jason, Angie, Della, Ivy, Jessie, Ashlee, TT, Peyton, Misa, Nicola, and Janae. A style appointment is available with Zoe. Stylist profiles can be viewed at vain.com/stylists

VAIN loves the Senior Center and we are excited for this opportunity to lend our support to this important community resource!

The photo is from a trip to the State Capitol today by staffers and board members of West Seattle Helpline, as the State Senate unanimously passed a resolution, SR 8615, in honor of its work supporting local families by providing emergency services and preventing homelessness. At center of the photo is 34th District State Senator Sharon Nelson, who praised WS Helpline in a speech on the Senate floor, acknowledging its staff and several board members staff of the West Seattle Helpline (Chris Langeler, Theresa Sundin, Layla Al-Jamal Judkins, Joan O’Brien) and several members of the board (Nick Naubert, Tracey Byrne, Rev. Ron Marshall, Mike Entzminger). Senator Nelson’s office organized a clothing drive among legislators and staff members and had a carload of donated clothing for WS Helpline’s newly expanded Clothesline. Here’s our coverage of last weekend’s Clothesline open house – here’s one of the rooms that’s ready to go, a dignified and easy-to-use space for the people in need of the donated clothing:

You can still donate here to help the Helpline get every room in the new space in shape.

The West Seattle Food Bank touches lives in many ways – if you’ve never needed its services, chances are you’ve donated to help those who do. This afternoon, the WS Food Bank opened its doors to everyone to show off its new “store model” operations – as shown here last month, this remodel enables the food bank to serve more people, more hours, in a more natural and dignified way. The open House (continuing until 6 pm) is also a chance for people to ask questions and enjoy some treats, catered by Luna Park-based Duos (in our photo, chicken/waffle bites and coconut shrimp):

Another way to help the WS Food Bank, besides donating food and/or money, is to attend this year’s Instruments of Change dinner/auction, set for May 13th. WSB is proud to be a sponsor this year; go here to find out more about the event and to buy your ticket(s).

Last month we told you about West Seattle Helpline finding a new home for its Clothesline, “an all-ages free clothing store for low-income individuals and families.” This Saturday, you can check it out in person during the grand-opening celebration, noon-3 pm, 4401 42nd SW. Bring a clothing donation to help stock the new store, and enjoy free barbecue while you’re there, courtesy of QFC and the West Seattle Christian Church board. Last year the Clothesline helped more than 1,000 people of all ages by providing more than $130,000 worth of clothing.

P.S. Opening the new Clothesline HQ comes with a cost, and Helpline is still working to raise the money for it, hoping to cover the cost by the end of this month – you can help via this Crowdrise page.

Last weekend, several local Scout troops gathered food donations in a variety of ways as part of Scouting for Food. One of them sent a photo and a report, with words of thanks for the donations they were able to gather:

West Seattle Boy Scout Troop #282 participated in Scouting for Food. We are grateful for our neighborhood’s generosity. We collected 713 pounds of food for the West Seattle Food Bank. Looking forward to next year!

Speaking of the Food Bank, next Saturday (March 25th) is when you’re invited to its open house, 3-6 pm (35th/Morgan), to see its new “shopping” model.

(Photo courtesy 100 Women Who Care/Greater Seattle)

The giving group 100 Women Who Care are sharing words of thanks for West Seattle supporters:

100 Women Who Care/Greater Seattle met at Pyramid Ale House and chose the Pink Daisy Project to receive our donation. With West Seattle neighbors’ participation, it was our largest donation to date, $4500. What a fun evening!

The Pink Daisy Project supports women who have breast cancer. It is exciting to know that our donation is going directly to women in the Seattle area to help them pay for essentials, e.g. house-cleaning assistance and gift cards for gas and groceries through the Pink Daisy Project.

We are growing! Yes, our membership has grown to 47, 16 new members since our event in October of last year. That’s a 50% increase! Big thanks to all the West Seattle neighbors that have helped increase our membership. To date, we have donated $17,600 to 6 local charities.

Remember our motto is together we can make a big difference as women who care.

100 women x $100 = $10,000 impact to a charity (we meet only 3 times/year)

Our next event is June 14th at Pyramid Ale House, 6-8 pm, to vote on a charity to receive 100% of our donation. Come join us and help make us 100 strong! As a member you get to nominate your favorite charities! Any questions, please contact us at 100womenseattle@gmail.com

One of West Seattle’s many unique attributes … one of the city’s last few bowling alleys. Next Saturday (March 25th), West Seattle Bowl will be the scene of two longrunning benefits … which we’re mentioning here in case you haven’t seen them in the calendar:

SEATTLE SEAFAIR COMMODORES BOWL-A-THON: Check-in starts at 9 am Saturday for the Seattle Seafair Commodores‘ 25th annual Bowl-a-Thon. It benefits the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women and covers the Commodores’ operating expenses. As the Bowl-A-Thon announcement explains, “Each Commodore donates their time and money to attend parades and events throughout the Pacific Northwest representing Seafair and the City of Seattle as goodwill ambassadors. We support the communities across Seattle and other nonprofits when asked.” Registration is $50 per adult bowler, $25 for children 12 and under. Online registration is available at seattlecommodores.com – with an incentive for registering by Monday night.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ‘BOWLING FOR EQUALITY‘: Then on Saturday afternoon/evening at West Seattle Bowl, it’s the 15th annual Bowling for Equality fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ-rights organization:

This event is always a fun time and we are excited to be back at West Seattle Bowl this year. Three sessions are available, 3-5 pm, 6-8 pm and 9-11 pm. The 3-5 pm session is a great option for families and kids. Included in your ticket price is 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, appetizers, and most importantly an annual membership to the HRC. We have great raffle prizes, drink specials, and are thrilled to welcome back West Seattle’s own Dolly Madison as our hostess! Please purchase your tickets at hrc.im/seattlebowling – door sales may be limited. (Full details on this flyer.)

WS Bowl – at 39th SW and SW Oregon – is a fun place to be any day, but next Saturday will be big.