Local food banks are providing holiday food through Wednesday – and yet the need outstrips the supply. Though White Center Food Bank took in hundreds of turkeys on Saturday, Ann Kendall just sent word:

It looks like we are going to run out of turkeys – we’re only on day 1 of holiday distribution and things are getting sparse. In some years people have deferred on the turkeys but this year they are in high demand. We will be at the food bank to accept donations tonight until 6pm, Tuesday from 9-6 and 9-7 on Wednesday. Phone 206-762-2848 at the food bank.

WC Food Bank – which also serves southern West Seattle – is at 8th/108th. And if you can’t make it there but can donate a turkey, West Seattle Food Bank (35th/Morgan) is accepting turkeys till 7 tonight.

Almost six months after reopening following a hiatus – West Seattle-based shelter program Family Promise of Seattle says it’s closing again, and this time it’s permanent.

After getting an e-mail announcement, we called to talk with executive director Norman Schwamberg, and he tells us the board determined “there just wasn’t sufficient money to continue operation and not really any hope in the foreseeable future to (generate money) to reopen with” – so they’re giving notice to their West Seattle day center’s landlord (the church next door) and will start clearing out.

Family Promise is a unique nationally franchised program: Rather than operate a physical shelter, they partner with local churches who provide shelter and meals for families, while FP administration helps the families find services and look for employment – that’s where the day center comes in. It opened here in 2008. Schwamberg says they’re looking for other nonprofits that can accept the items they’ll have to clear out of the day center. The last family they’re sheltering will likely move on today; he says they’re finishing the intake process with another organization.

Last August, FP closed after running out of money, but said they would reopen if they could raise $90,000 – enough money for a half-year of operations. They got it done, and reopened in June, but that half-year is almost over, and no source of sustainable funding emerged along the way.

After we mentioned tonight’s annual Beer Church Turkey Bowl on WSB earlier this week, someone asked if the Beer Church was “faith-based.” We said no – but in a way, that was wrong. Kim Jones (above) and Kendall Jones certainly have faith in people’s generosity – and in their quest for a good time. So the annual Turkey Bowl honors both. The former, as evidenced here:

That’s some of the hundreds of pounds of food – to be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank – that had already arrived when we checked in earlier on tonight’s event at West Seattle Bowl. And as for the “good time,” the teams that came to bowl – and for the annual good-natured competition between local beverage purveyors/establishments – included this quartet from the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor):

We even found … an out-of-uniform Seattle Police commander:

That’s Capt. Joe Kessler, who led West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct till moving across the bridge to the sprawling West Precinct last year. The Turkey Bowl rolls on into the night; we’ll update this story when there’s a final tally from the Beer Church leadership on just how much their disciples brought to the party!

ADDED SUNDAY: Here are the results!

Last night we raised over $4k in cash and over 2k pounds of food (estimate) for the food bank. Exact totals will come from (WS Food Bank), probably on Monday. We had a total of 199 bowlers participate.

Once again, we had a couple of competitions going on within the larger event. Eight breweries and eight bars competed this year.
Naked City Brewing Co from Greenwood took home the Battle of the Brewers Trophy. Elliott Bay Brewery Pub took home the California Avenue Bar Brawl trophy, ending West 5’s three-year run as champs.

West 5 deserves big kudos for donating over 600 lbs. of food! Great work! Every year West 5 knocks it out of the park in terms of food donations.

Cheers,
Kendall and Kim Jones

This morning, WestSide Baby is receiving a 100,000-diaper donation from Huggies – we dropped by for photos just as the truck was getting unloaded. But that’s not the only big news at WS Baby: Executive director Nancy Woodland will serve as a founding board member of the brand-new National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). It’s been launched “with a mission to raise awareness of diaper need and build the capacity of diaper banks,” according to the official announcement, which reminds us all of the problem:

Local families in poverty or crisis are unable to purchase an adequate supply of diapers to properly diaper their babies. At nearly $100 per month per child, families struggling to put food on the table or pay utilities must often choose between food and diapers. Because they are expensive and not covered by food stamps, diapers end up rationed or reused and babies suffer from diaper rash and other serious health issues.

Nancy says one in three American families falls into that category – so NDBN will create “a national network of community partners” to make sure there is a supply of diapers wherever needed to protect those children’s health. Huggies is the founding sponsor of NDBN and is currently on a cross-country “12 Days of Thanks” tour donating 12 million diapers in 12 cities (including Nancy’s childhood hometown, Detroit). Huggies has been donating diapers to WestSide Baby through its “Every Little Bottom” campaign.

But community donations still make up the lion’s share of what they provide to local families in need – and it’s not just diapers. So we asked WestSide Baby to please share its holiday-season wishlist on behalf of those families:

Winter Coats – all sizes
Newborn Diapers
Boy and Girl Pull-Ups : 4T-5T
Car Seats (Combinations seats from 20-80 lbs are most requested)
Hygiene Items (baby wash, diaper cream, lotion)
Baby Wipes
Warm Clothes: Sizes 5T-12
Socks and Underwear : new packages

As always, we accept all diaper sizes but distribute the most 4’s, 5’s and 6’s!

Where and when can you donate, you ask? That information is on the left side of WestSide Baby’s home page. You can donate money, too – here’s how to do that online.

Location, location, location, the saying goes. That’s what Holy Rosary‘s Daisy Scout Troop has for their bake sale this morning outside the church, continuing into the early afternoon. Not only are they right outside the church at 42nd/Genesee – that’s also kitty corner from West Seattle Christian Church, a block up the street from Hope Lutheran Church, and on the north edge of The Junction, if you happen to be headed that way for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market or other shopping. They’re donating part of the proceeds to veterans, so patriotic themes abound, including a flag-design cake and red/white/blue decor – and Thanksgiving touches, too:

The bake sale has an indoor table at Holy Rosary, too.

On this Veterans Day, a group of college students is working to help military personnel via a campaign called Students for Soldiers. Among them is Christina Powell (left), who e-mailed WSB to explain that they’re working to “procure items for care packages which will be sent only to troops stationed at FOB’s (Forward Operating Bases). These soldiers were chosen because they are in remote areas, often the most dangerous, and do not have access to Exchanges. Exchanges that are on the military bases are where soldiers are able to buy such daily necessities as deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby-wipes (the easiest way to clean oneself in the desert), and so on. Without access, they must simply go without these daily necessities, depleting morale and running the risk of illness at a time when they must be the most alert and cautious of danger.” Christina is looking for West Seattle community support because, while she’s a Washington State University student, she’s studying via “distance degree,” and works at Celtic Swell on Alki.

Originally, our goal was going to be to send 300 packages to troops however, we have teamed up with a non-profit organization called US Troop Care Packages (USTC) located in Pasco, WA that says ‘if we get the goods to them, they will cover the shipping costs for packages.’ Now, our GOAL is to raise $5000 in goods to be sent to Pasco who know how to get these items to soldiers at FOB’s. All 25 of us are now reaching out to our friends, family, churches, and communities (be it local, state, or nationwide) to help us with this cause. I believe that as a community, we can all come together and truly make a difference that will have an impact far greater than any that we could imagine.

The direct link to our Facebook page where you will find all of our information, updates, and the link to the Amazon WishList is:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003042561352&sk=wall

Donations: We have set up an Amazon WishList that contains the most needed items for soldiers on FOB’s right now. This WishList shows the items, all travel sized, with the information and price right there. This method allows you to buy items, pay and ship directly to the USTC for care packages to be compiled. Everything is safe, secure, every cent accounted for and completely traceable.

The direct link for the Amazon WishList is:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/VVQ6A6WMQYTP/ref=cm_wl_sortbar_v_page_1?_encoding=UTF8&page=1

As an example: On the site listed above, you will find among the list “Huggies Baby Wipes Travel Pack, Case of 12 Packs” with a picture, description, and price options. With this item that runs $20, you have just given 12 soldiers (assuming they don’t share) the ability to clean their face and bodies in the desert. You simply select which items you’d like to donate and add them to the cart. When ready, click “check out”. Select the first option for shipping addresses as the WishList already is programmed with the address for USTC who will then put all items together and mail them overseas.

Christina says there was plenty of inspiration for the campaign, particularly the fact that she has classmates who have served, and the fact her family is “full of Marines.”