Two food fundraisers in West Seattle for Lakewood Police families

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First – you’ve no doubt heard by now about the Papa John’s Pizza fundraiser, in which the company says it will donate its regional profits from orders next Tuesday/Wednesday to the families of the four Lakewood Police officers killed last Sunday. We just confirmed that the Papa John’s in West Seattle is participating. Meantime, another dining fundraiser has just been announced by Merrill Gardens (WSB sponsor), which has two West Seattle locations, where all proceeds from this event will go to the officers’ families:

Wednesday, December 9, 5-7 pm, Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights & West Seattle will host a Pasta Dinner with all the fixings to raise money for the families of the fallen police officers in Western Washington. The dinner will be available for a minimum $10 donation. All money collected will be donated to the fund for the families.

Residents and team members at each of the 22 Washington State Merrill Gardens retirement communities will host this fundraiser that is open to family, friends and the general public. All food and beverages will be donated by Merrill Gardens.

Where: Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights
2326 California Ave. SW, (206) 938-3964

Merrill Gardens at West Seattle
4611 35th Ave. SW, (206) 932-5480

sacatosh December 3, 2009 (8:01 pm)

For the Papa John’s fundraiser, you MUST tell the clerk that you want the proceeds to be donated to the firefighters. If you don’t mention the fundraiser, they will not donate your order.

mp December 3, 2009 (9:22 pm)

Before you divert a donation from a worthy cause like a food bank or something… read this list of benefits the families will get from your tax money:

As it stands right now each family will get close to $1 million + dollars if they play the system.
Go here to see the formula of $150K for the incident, 1/2 salary until spouse remarries, college for the kids etc.
This is in addition to negotiated labor contract benefits, social security, labor and industry crime victim, labor and industry fines to the employer if the employer created a hazard in the work place, private life insurance, and any lawsuits which might occur (there is usually at least one against the city, county, or perpetrator if he/she has any assets.

It is a package that exceeds almost any other person’s job.

http://policelink.monster.com/nfs/policelink/static/washington-pl.pdf

Of course it;s a really bad thing someone has to die to collect from this system but I wouldn’t worry about the family’s money situation.

Tonya December 4, 2009 (12:44 pm)

I think it’s a terrific idea to have a fundraiser, regardless of what the “payout” is to the family,nothing is written in stone, except their headstone.

pg December 4, 2009 (7:18 pm)

sacatosh is incorrect, all profits will go toward the families, you do not have to request it.

mp … I guarantee the families of the fallen officers would trade every cent to have their family member back. It’s a shame that in the face of such a tragedy you would degrade the families and the memories of the fallen officers by suggesting they don’t need the support.

Stephanie December 5, 2009 (11:04 pm)

I currently work as a Manager for one of the Papa Johns participating in the fundraiser. All proceeds of the orders placed on the 8th and 9th will indeed go to the families of the fallen officers. I would also like to add that we will be offering delaying of orders as well in order to insure the quality of the product. With the high volume that is expected to accumulate those two days, it’s possible to place your order on Tues and Wed and delay it for another day during the remainder of the week. For example: If you wish to call Tues and place your order, you may request to have it delivered Friday at 6pm (or which ever time you choose) and your donation will still be added to the rest. Those two days for most of the PJ stores involved will be overwhelmed and delivery times will not be quoted.

I want to give thanks to all who have responded in this time of deep sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the families. Thank you kindly.

WSB December 5, 2009 (11:07 pm)

So all proceeds – as in, the entire price? Someone orders a $14 pizza and the entire $14 goes to the families? Previous reports have almost universally mentioned “profits,” which would mean anything you make beyond the cost, so there could be quite a difference, and I’ve been trying to clarify – TR (WSB editor)

Stephanie December 6, 2009 (8:39 am)

100% of the profits and my apologies for not clarifying that piece of information.

It works out to be roughly 15% of the sales for the day per store. So if we do a $6000 dollar day, it will be about 15% of those sales. Add in that at least 40 stores are participating.

WSB December 6, 2009 (12:31 pm)

Thank you! That helps immensely. I’ve never run a restaurant but I hear that the margins can be pretty slim since there’s so much overhead and I was wondering if that could mean a $20 pizza could yield oh, say, 20 cents of contribution. Thanks very much for adding info – TR

Sarah December 7, 2009 (11:18 pm)

Sacatosh, they weren’t firefighters. Maybe u didn’t get that part. And about families being well taken care of. I hope so!, But,like one said nothing is guaranteed. But besides that, donating to this cause helps the family to the fallen that, we hurt and stand with them and for them, bring an officers wife u think not many people like cops, and possibly think that no one cares. But the out pour of generosity and compation and just Blue love for these 5 officers in the last month give me hope that people do care for our blue brothers and sisters:)

Tiffany December 9, 2009 (4:17 pm)

I think the fundraisers show the pride the community has in their officers. We never see a community come together like this. I’ve been on hold for Papa Johns for 25 minutes now and I’m not screaming at the phone. It just means that many people care enough to take care of these families. I think it’s really selfish for someone to point out what the families get as a “pay out”. Help is always needed. Thank you to all in blue and to everyone else in colors who are out there making it safe for us to live in.