One way to look at it is, it’s like helping get the toys and clothes from Santa’s workshop, into the sleigh: WestSide Baby, which collects and distributes clothing, diapers, and toys for local families in need, is having a Sorting Party tomorrow night, and it’s a classic case of “many hands mean lighter work” — If you can spare all or part of two hours, 7-9 pm tomorrow (Thursday), you can help get items from shelves like the ones above, into family-tailored bags like the ones below (with “orders to fill” for almost 200 kids as of our visit this morning):

RSVP to Sarah at sarah@westsidebaby.org – or just show up, 10032 15th SW in White Center (map). Read on for more, as explained by WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland:

If you can’t make it to the sorting party 7-9 pm Thursday, check WestSide Baby’s website for the list of specific diaper sizes it currently needs – as Nancy explained to us during our visit, the families they serve have very specific needs, and some sizes just aren’t in demand, while others fly off the shelves. They also can always use money; there are some things that would help them run the organization a lot more efficiently, and serve more families more quickly, but they cost money (a particular computerized system, for example, would cost $6,000 they just don’t have). But in the short run – take two hours tomorrow night, and join the WestSide Baby people power – people like Gary:

He checks equipment that’s donated, like cribs, to make sure they’re safe enough to give to families – that workshed also is the result of donations (Alki Lumber, Nancy mentioned). One more way to help WestSide Baby – Santa photos during Junction Hometown Holiday Sundays, starting this Sunday, noon-4 pm at Cupcake Royale; a professional photographer will be doing the photos, technically free but donations are suggested, with beneficiaries including WestSide Baby.