550 people, almost 50 local food/beverage purveyors, and … drum roll … more than $30,000 raised for West Seattle Helpline at last Thursday’s Taste of West Seattle! So reports Helpline executive director Tara Luckie, now that the final count is in:

That’s 23% more than last year. We want to give a big thanks to the many establishments who participated and to the ticket purchasers who made this event a success. The West Seattle Helpline looks forward to helping many families get back on their feet after facing an emergency in West Seattle with these funds.

You of course don’t have to wait for the next special event to help the Helpline … you can donate online any time.