Thanksgiving giving: West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center visits encampments

| Holidays | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

Volunteers from West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center kept their tradition of Thanksgiving giving for the encampment residents of “Nickelsville,” even though it moved on to three new locations three months ago. Center director Lee Bui shares the photos. He says the group led by Dr. Tran Hai Khanh, M.D., went to all three sites within a few hours at midday today, first Skyway, then the two encampments in central Seattle. The brought clothes and seafood gumbo and gave haircuts and vaccinations.

Bui says that while it was foggy, it was more beautiful than last year since it wasn’t raining!

The Vietnamese Cultural Center, if you haven’t been, is at 2236 SW Orchard, a block west of Delridge, and is open to the public on Saturday afternoons. This is the third year it’s brought a group of volunteers to Nickelsville – at the West Seattle site in 2011 and 2012, and now the three others – for Thanksgiving.

Laura November 28, 2013 (10:31 pm)

Beautiful tradition.

miws November 29, 2013 (12:13 am)

Huge thanks to Mr. Bui, the Vietnamese Cultural Center, Dr. Khanh, and any others involved in this incredible act of generosity!

Very kind of them to continue this tradition, despite Nickelsville not only no longer being “in the neighborhood”, but also for the fact that they went to all three Camps, each several miles away from the former location, and each other.

Mike

G November 30, 2013 (11:47 am)

Yes, an incredible act of generosity, but long term I’m hoping that these able-bodied adult men are finding avenues to become more self-sufficient – better for them individually, better for society.

Teri Ensley November 30, 2013 (2:50 pm)

Thank you Mr. Bui, Dr. Khanh, and the other members of the Vietnamese Cultural Center. Having been at the last two Thanksgivings that all of you hosted, meeting each of you and witnessing the outpouring of caring has always warmed my heart. Big hugs to all of you.

LyndaB November 30, 2013 (9:07 pm)

G, my hope is the same as yours. I spoke with different folks at each site. One was going to school to learn a trade and another wished to be reunited with her grandchildren. They are trying their best.