West Seattle Thanksgiving 2011: Vietnamese community brings feast, flu shots to Nickelsville

| Holidays | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

That’s Lee Bui, director of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle, and daughter Lynda Bui. We photographed them late this morning at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville – where a flock of volunteers from the Vietnamese community had come to provide both a feast …

… and flu shots (with the help of pharmacist Dr. Rosalie T. Nguyen)!

Lee Bui organized the huge Thanksgiving gift, explaining that every year, the center gets holiday solicitations for help, and usually donates money. But, he said, he drives by Nickelsville each day (taking his wife to work) – and after stopping to get a firsthand look, decided to organize something more meaningful this holiday season. (He says they’ll be back for Christmas, too.) The volunteers gathered under canopies for the operation; the only place to warm up was a campfire nearby:

The Vietnamese Cultural Center is in its sixth year of operation at 2236 SW Orchard just west of the Tug Inn, north of Home Depot; they’re open to the public for visits/tours noon-3 on Saturdays.

(P.S. A chance for you to help residents of Nickelsville is coming up on December 3, when Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights has organized a “stuff the bus” event – here’s our recent report with details.)

Lorelee November 24, 2011 (3:27 pm)

Very cool

westseattledood November 24, 2011 (4:20 pm)

Agreed.

Neighbor November 24, 2011 (4:37 pm)

Thank you! I had my first walk around the camp this week and got to meet some of the residents. It seems to me as though these people are really amazing and made of such strength. I have a completely different view of not only their reality but of my own as well. We could change the world if we all just got involved. This is right in all of our backyard, the least amount of effort can have such a huge impact

If anyone out there has a line on where waterproof boots can be got on the cheap please me know, it is nearly flooded at the site and more rain is comin’.

coffee November 24, 2011 (4:43 pm)

Yet another reason west seattle is such a great place. And how wonderful that this group reached out to spread the care, food, and health to this group of people.

GenHillOne November 24, 2011 (5:06 pm)

Now THAT’S great – thanks, Mr. Bui (& friends)!

Momof3 November 24, 2011 (6:18 pm)

That is awesome.

LyndaB November 24, 2011 (10:59 pm)

I am grateful for the opportunity to be present and to learn more about the daily life there. TJ gave us an informative narrative and tour. We were there for just about two hours. Kudos to the volunteers and the flu shots that were given. I would like to add another group came in with another feast after us. Several donors came through with much needed supplies as we were leaving. My dad extended an invitation to the mayor to join us and we met Jalene (husband Ryan), a representative, who came to volunteer as well. I hope the rain lets up and the clouds subside. Everyone will be grateful! Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Correction, please. My pops actually is retired and drives my mom to work. :) She is grateful for that.

WSB November 24, 2011 (11:37 pm)

Fixing!

Cclarue November 25, 2011 (6:33 am)

That is so amazing!! Thank you Mr. Bui and team!!!! You are all angels.

JoB November 25, 2011 (8:45 am)

There was truly something to be thankful for at Nickelsville this thanksgiving….

Linh Thai November 25, 2011 (12:44 pm)

Goodwill begets goodwill. I have a hunch that there are two critical tasks in each Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks and Giving Back. Mr. Bui and the Vietnamese American volunteers demonstrated beautifully, in my opinion, the essence of Thanksgiving. I hope each one of us will find a way to do the same for someone else today, and everyday until the next Thanksgiving.

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