West Seattle benefit Sunday for slide victims: WS4OSO

| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSDOT aerial of slide zone, via Flickr)
Here in West Seattle, 65 miles away from the agonizing search of the slide zone in and around the Snohomish County town of Oso – 25 dead, 90 missing – you might wonder what you can do to help.

Here’s one answer, hatched overnight on social media by one of West Seattle’s most-prolific fundraisers, Tracy Dart: This Sunday, support West Seattle for Oso, WS4OSO for short. Local businesses are jumping in to offer various ways you can help by shopping at their stores and/or dining/drinking at their restaurants/lounges; volunteers will be circulating in neighborhoods including The Junction to collect money; and other ideas are percolating. Best thing you can do right now is “like” the Facebook page that Tracy set up early today: facebook.com/ws4oso – or at least go there to see who’s participating so far (full list to come before Sunday). If you use Twitter, follow the hashtag #WS4OSO. If you are not much for social media, no worries, we’ve pledged to publish updates here. More to come!

ADDED 12:06 PM: Minutes after we published this, the first official news release arrived, including an early list of participants, and how to reach Tracy if you would like to join in:

In an effort to help the city of Oso, WA, after last weekend’s devestating mudslide, the West Seattle community has joined together to raise funds for our neighbors to the north. On Sunday, March 30th, more than 20 businesses (and counting) in the West Seattle area will be donating a percentage of their sales to the relief efforts in Oso.

As a small community that prides itself in taking care of our neighbors and neighborhoods, we can only imagine the anguish and heartbreak that the town of Oso is feeling at this time. West Seattle businesses will be joined by grass-roots efforts, including volunteers at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market collecting donations, bake sales, etc, on Sunday to raise funds for Oso.

All donations will go to the Red Cross and the United Way Recovery Fund, to directly benefit the ongoing clean up and recovery efforts, as well as helping rebuild this community.

Businesses currently participating on Sunday, March 30th:

Carmilia’s, West 5, Beveridge Place Pub, Shadowland, Cherry Consignment, Prost, Meander’s, West Seattle Runner, Shockwave Tee’s, Lika Love Fashion, Mind Unwind, West Seattle Bowl, Tully’s on Alki, Capers, Angelina’s, Christos on Alki, Clementine, the Bridge, Hotwire Coffee, Menashe & Sons Jewelry.

Please go to WS4OSO on Facebook for an updated list.

Please direct all questions to Tracy Dart at tracy@brandbaby.net or (206) 412-6616

Click! March 27, 2014 (1:57 pm)

Click! Design That Fits will be participating as well… it sounds like the list of businesses is expanding rapidly! I believe they will also be taking cash donations at the Farmer’s Market.

Alia March 27, 2014 (1:58 pm)

Thank you for sharing this. This is a great idea. So sad for the people of Oso; any small thing any of us can do to help is good.

Charell Estby March 27, 2014 (2:33 pm)

Firefly Cafe & Creperie is also on the list of participating businesses. We will match dollar for dollar (up to $200). There will be a donation jar as well as ability to add your donation to your ticket. GO WEST SEATTLE!

Sheila Valentine March 27, 2014 (5:56 pm)

The West Seattle Eagles is holding a dinner Sat Night for the cause. Chicken fried Steak Real mashed potatoes, corn & desert for $9. Also we made 200 jello shooters to sell. Hopefully we will have live music donated. Open to the public~~ 5:30 to 7 or dinner

sc March 27, 2014 (10:13 pm)

I am so glad West Seattle is helping Oso. I so feel their sadness and pain and am so thankful we will be able to help them. Thank you to those who organized this event.

VAIN March 28, 2014 (12:24 pm)

VAIN is in!
Thank you Tracy for putting this together and we are grateful for the opportunity to participate and help our neighbors to the north.

Lisa Myers March 28, 2014 (12:32 pm)

CAPERS is participating in the #WS4OSO event on Sunday. In addition to donating a percentage of sales we have a Wishing Tree. You can come in and write a Wish for Oso to hang on the tree and leave a donation if you would like.