YOU CAN HELP: Here’s what West Seattle’s only severe-weather shelter needs, with below-freezing temperatures returning

| How to help | Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Shelter/center lobby, WSB photo from December)

Below-freezing nights are in the forecast all week, so West Seattle’s only emergency shelter has reopened its doors. It’s in the Veterans Center/American Legion Post 160 building in The Triangle, operated with volunteer help and donations, so center manager Keith Hughes emailed us with some requests for anyone who can help:

The Warm-Up Center and Cold Weather Overnight Shelter will be open this week and possibly into next week. We could really use the community’s support again, with men’s-size socks, gloves, stocking caps, T-shirts, and underwear. We have plenty of cots and blankets now, and we thank you all for those.

In the food department, our needs are: Coffee, creamer, pancake mix, instant oatmeal, instant hot-chocolate mix, granola bars, and grocery-store gift cards so we can get milk, eggs, and other fresh items. Thank you so much for your kind and generous support.

The center/shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska, 206-932-9696.

WiseWoman February 21, 2022 (11:11 pm)

Does a person we would refer here have to be vaccinated? They actually have a FT job. And thank you for sharing our Veteran Center for this… Awesome.

rocket February 22, 2022 (6:28 am)

This is not a prerequisite for entry. All that is asked is that they arrive before 10 or whenever lights out is (some nights Keith pushes it a little later depending on if a church is using the banquet room, I think its Sunday and Wednesday when lights out is pushed back to 11).

Stephanie February 22, 2022 (8:08 am)

Does it work to order food items on Amazon Fresh and have them delivered, or does that make things difficult for the staff and it’s better if we can deliver them in person? I want to do whatever’s best for the center. Thanks!

MR February 22, 2022 (10:32 am)

I hope it’s OK to have them delivered directly – I ordered underwear, socks and gloves that are due to be delivered there tomorrow.

Katie Bunch February 22, 2022 (2:44 pm)

Is there a way to send a monetary donation over ?

WSB February 22, 2022 (3:20 pm)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/west-seattle-veteran-center

K February 22, 2022 (5:40 pm)

Keith- I just ordered a 6 pack of XL t-shirts and a 12 pack of winter hats from Amazon, to be delivered directly to the site tomorrow. Thank you for all you do!

Michael Ross February 23, 2022 (2:54 pm)

Donations of items are great, however, what is really needed are volunteers to donate time in four hour blocks so that Keith can go home to eat, clean up, and/or take care of his own personal needs. There is a sign up sheet at the shelter for morning, midday, and evening shifts. Sunday is Keith’s birthday and currently he is there all day with no break.

Michael Ross February 24, 2022 (11:07 am)

Keep the donations coming in, and don’t forget we could really use people to sign up and take some times so that Keith can go home and shower and eat lunch and/or dinner with his wife, especially while his daughter is in town this week.Also, they could use cleaning supplies more than food right now! Anti-bacterial cleaning wipes, dish towels, paper towels, etc.

WS Res February 24, 2022 (11:57 am)

Can somebody forward this request on to Admiral Church? They weren’t able to help unhoused folks by offering up their space but perhaps a few congregants could come help take shifts.

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