(WSB photo)

For neighbors in need, Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood now has a Little Free Pantry, stocked with food and hygiene items, built with volunteers, donations, and grant money. It’s on the open patio by the church’s lower-level doors at the corner of 39th SW and SW Thistle. The church’s youth/family director Nicole Klinemeier emailed to share the news, explaining, “The top has food items, and on the bottom there is a bin with hygiene items such as diapers, menstruation supplies, deodorant, etc.” She also says the church grounds will soon feature a prayer walk focusing on hunger, similar to the Black Lives Matter prayer walk we featured in June.

(Natalia, Helena, and Lara Frazier, after filling the new Little Free Pantry for the first time)

The announcement and photo are from Jeana Frazier:

New Little Free Pantry at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

Please spread the word about one of the newest “little free pantries” in the West Seattle area! Located outside the office at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave. SW (next to the West Seattle High School parking lot), this pantry is available for all members of the neighborhood to “take what you need or give what you can.” Church attendees will be stocking the pantry on a regular basis, but members of the public are encouraged to donate non-perishable food, personal-care items, paper goods, and so on.

Little free pantries are a no-barrier access point for food. They aren’t intended to replace food banks, but rather to work alongside them, getting food to neighbors who may be skipping a meal. It is our hope that the neighborhood will embrace the little free pantry at St. John’s Church and help to reduce food insecurity (made worse by Covid-19 and the recent economic downturn).

Want to put up a LFP? See this WSB story from last month.

Along with Little Free Libraries and Little Free Pantries, West Seattle has a Little Free Art Gallery, and it’s reopened for the season. Mindi Katzman first told us about it last year and just sent these photos and update:

After a brief winter closure, West Seattle’s Little Free Art Gallery has re-opened.

As a reminder to your readers, it is located in the Morgan Junction just a few blocks east of Thriftway on 38th Avenue SW, between Graham and Morgan.

Please c’mon by and grab a little piece. Or, leave a piece. Or just enjoy!!!!

Looking forward to brightening your point of view.

(Photos courtesy Girl Scout Troop 45180)

Something new outside the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse – by the hedge on the right side of the photo above – a brand-new Little Free Pantry!

Girl Scout Troop 45180 dedicated it this morning. It’s as distinctive inside as outside:

The space (9131 California SW) is to be filled with community food donations – which in turn will be retrieved by anyone in need. (Read more about Little Free Pantries here.)

(Also published on our partner site White Center Now)

That’s a Little Free Pantry. In the spirit of Little Free Libraries, LFPs are a new neighborhood-based way to help address hunger – which has long existed in all neighborhoods, but is now worsened by the virus-crisis economic crunch. The project started in southeast Seattle and founder Molly Harmon says they are expanding west, looking for hosts:

A small movement has taken hold in SE Seattle and we are spreading the energy to West Seattle, White Center, and Burien – the building and installing of Little Free Pantries (LFP).

This project began with a micro-grant & six Little Free Pantries, and within a month we’ve raised over $3,000 and distributed nearly 44 Little Free Pantries. Little Free Pantries help neighbors feed neighbors. They aren’t intended to replace food security agencies nor eliminate the need to support them; rather they work alongside each other to draw awareness to food insecurity issues and create community through collective action in a neighborhood. We’ve begun working alongside Northwest Harvest & will work to reach out to area food banks, finding ways to utilize each other’s efforts in addressing food security.

The intention is to inform people on food insecurity and bring an issue, which hides in our society, to the surface. Millions of housed Americans are facing food insecurity on a daily basis and with our unemployment rate soaring due to COVID-19, food banks are struggling to access enough food to support those in need. It is imperative to educate the public on this growing need for food and LFPs bring this issue front and center to our neighborhoods, but in a supportive and caring way. Micro-communities form around this pillar (Little Free Pantry) and in turn, connect neighbors who otherwise would not have met. By neighbors stocking their neighborhood Little Free Pantry with non-perishable foods, it keeps the pantry full and helps those needing a meal. Whether a need for food or a need to give, Little Free Pantries help neighbors feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.

We have hit our recent goal of $1150, which will enable us to build 18 pantries. We will distribute these pantries for free throughout Southwest Seattle. This is a grassroots, crowd-sourced solution to address immediate and local needs as a viable way to build community and support those facing food insecurity.

More information can be found at www.thelittlefreepantries.org. Additionally, if you feel a Little Free Pantry would work well in your neighborhood, please apply through the website.

Food insecurity is prevalent, whether you have seen it firsthand or not. And COVID-19 is intensifying the food insecurity that many of our neighbors are vulnerable to. With schools closed and layoffs rampant, many in our community are potentially going to bed hungry A quote from an owner of anewly installed Little Free Pantry in the Seward Park neighborhood, “Since it went up a little over two weeks ago, our LFP (located on Seward Park Ave, between Willow and Brighton) has been used daily, confirming that hunger is often hiding in plain sight, even in neighborhoods you might not think it would exist in.”

Questions? Ask here.

Scout dad Jason sent the announcement:

Cub Scout Pack 799 in Arbor Heights would like to inform the West Seattle community that we are conducting a food drive through the next two weekends. Scouts and parents will place food drive hangers on doors this Juneteenth, Saturday 6/19, and then return the following Saturday, June 26th, to collect any nonperishable items, bagged, from the locations where we distributed hangers (by noon/midday).

This drive is our Scouts’ final service activity heading into summer. With public school meals-by-bus and home delivery ceasing tomorrow, we hope to boost West Seattle Food Bank‘s mobile services through July (note SPS will have distribution sites operating during summer). If you see a Scout in your neighborhood putting out hangers, or find a hanger on your door, please consider donating.

And if folks miss our pickup date and still wish to donate after June 26th, they can drop off donations at the West Seattle Food bank, or place items in a “Little Free Pantry” nearby.

See the following link for items the West Seattle Food Bank currently accepts: westseattlefoodbank.org/donate-food

For questions, contact ahcubpack799@gmail.com

(Ever-evolving display at Lincoln Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

So much happening today/tonight! Here’s our list:

LITTLE FREE PANTRY & FOOD DRIVE: You’re invited!

Please join local Girl Scout Troop 45180 for their
Little Free Pantry Grand Opening and Food Drive
Saturday June 12, 10:00 am – Noon
Located at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse
9131 California Ave SW
Benefiting those with food insecurity in the neighborhood as well as passersby.

THE DANCING COWBOY @ WYATT’S JEWELERS: Meet the artist and enjoy 20 percent savings today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village. Open 10 am-6 pm.

DRIVEWAY ROCK & GEM SHOW: 10 am-4 pm, see/shop rocks, gems, minerals! (2009 SW Dakota)

SOUTH DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET OPENS: 11 am-3 pm in the courtyard at Hope Academy (9421 18th SW), it’s the debut of a brand-new farmers’ market, as previewed here.

VACCINATION POP-UP: Pop-up at/during the new Farmers’ Market – as previewed here – no appointment needed.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: 11 am at Memorial Stadium downtown; if you don’t have a ticket, don’t worry, you can watch here.

FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: 11 am-4 pm, one more chance to shop this amazing array of plants while knowing your money’s going to help people and their pets stay together. 3809 46th SW; more info in our calendar listing.

MORE SALES: Check the WSB Community Forums!

LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: 11 am-2 pm, meet Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks. Low tide is out to -2 feet at 12:50 pm today.

BRIDGE CLEANUP: 1-3 pm, join Conrad in this community cleanup; meet at Marginal Place under the bridge. Details in our calendar listing.

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: 5 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown; if you don’t have a ticket, don’t worry, you can watch here.

IN THE HEART OPENING NIGHT: 5-11 pm, the New Orleans-inspired speakeasy-style bar behind Lika Love Boutique opens, starting with a ribbon-cutting celebration. (See our story about In The Heart here.)

Are we missing something? Text us – 206-293-6302 – thank you!

32 weeks ago tonight – on February 28th – King County announced its first case of COVID-19. Here are tonight’s local toplines:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:

*23,736 people have tested positive, 150 more than yesterday’s total

*776 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*2,429 people have been hospitalized, 11 more than yesterday’s total

*471,588 people have been tested, 4,502 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 22,788/764/2,382/445,824.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 36.8 million cases, 1,067,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

NEED TESTING? Another reminder, the city-operated testing site in West Seattle – south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) – is open Saturdays. Go here to choose an appointment time.

NEED FOOD? Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church is distributing food boxes again tomorrow – drive up, ride up, or walk up at 2620 SW Kenyon, 1:30-4 pm.

24/7 FOOD AND SUPPLIES: Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (39th/Thistle) has a new Little Free Pantry with food and hygiene items available.

DONATION DRIVE SUNDAY: Alki UCC will have another drive 10 am-3 pm Sunday, outside the church at 6115 SW Hinds:

A huge shout-out to all the generous people who filled our lobby with donations of non-perishable food, school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing during our last expanded donations drive. The next Call for Donations is this Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, outside Alki UCC’s front entrance at 6115 SW Hinds

Food and basic supplies such as toilet paper and diapers are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. We’re accepting school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks and colored paper.

Donations of clean, new or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network’s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, tee shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits

REOPENING: Two days after the governor announced movie theaters could open at 25 percent capacity in Phase 2 counties, West Seattle’s Admiral Theater says it will open a week from today.

GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

(Soggy Steller’s Jay, photographed earlier this week by Jerry Simmons)

Here’s our list for fall’s first Sunday, starting as usual with West Seattle church services (mostly online, with a few in-person options), before we list other events:

ADMIRAL UCC: The worship service for today is here.

ALKI UCC: 10 am online service via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.

ALL SOULS SEATTLE: Updated worship info is here, including the plan for today’s drive-thru communion.

BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming for West Seattle here at 9:30 am.

CALVARY CHAPEL: Today’s service audio will be here, along with info on 10 am in-person service, 6 pm online all-church prayer and 7 pm online evening worship.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: West Seattle Ward has Sunday services via Zoom at 10 am, one hour long, all welcome. They last an hour. Here’s the link.

EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.

FAUNTLEROY UCC: Service will be streamed at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.

GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.

HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.

HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 8:30 am and 10:30 am here. Also, “in-person” attendance by pre-registration for both those Sunday Masses (as well as 5 pm Saturdays) – sign up here.

HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, here. (To attend in-person Saturday Mass, register here.)

PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: 9 am, parking-lot service in church/school lot – bulletin is here, with info including the radio frequency. ONLINE: 10 am class “The Path,” and Kidz Club; 11:15 am livestreamed service, via YouTube (that bulletin is here). Little Free Pantry needs donations – if it’s full, drop off at the church office 10 am-3 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today will be here, as will Sunday School.

TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am. (In-person services too; registration required.)

WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.

WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 11 am.

WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel. (In-person prayer services during the week – info here.)

WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming at 10:30 am – information on today’s service is here.

WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online (and in-person) worship at 11 am; info here.

Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Also today:

WEST SEATTLE GROUNDS ANNIVERSARY: The North Admiral coffee shop celebrates its second anniversary 7 am-3 pm today with free drinks! (2141 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; pickups for online orders are at California/Oregon)

DONATION DRIVE: Food, diapers, men’s clothing, school supplies … all needed. Drop donations off outside Alki UCC, 10 am-3 pm – full details here. (6115 SW Hinds)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center, SW Roxbury St. & 15th Ave. SW (9600 15th Ave SW)

Anything else happening? Let us know – text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Ready for the mask mandate? On the eve of the order taking effect, here’s our nightly roundup:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:

*9,612 people have tested positive, up 110 from yesterday

*585 people have died, up 2 from yesterday

*1,561 people have been hospitalized, up 6 from yesterday

*153,505 people have been tested, up 3.409 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 8,987/582/1,537/135,003.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.

MASK UP STARTING TOMORROW: That’s when the state order takes effect. The basics are here.

COVID CASE CLOSES COFFEE SHOP: Admiral Starbucks is temporarily closed after an employee tested positive.

WEST SEATTLE TESTING TOMORROW: Friday is the weekly drive-up testing day in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), 10 am-3 pm.

TELL YOUR STORY: From the Seattle Public Library:

The Seattle Public Library is a repository of Seattle’s history – help us document local history by contributing your story to our new COVID-19 Community Collection.

The Library would like to see and hear how the events of the past few months have affected you. We are looking for stories, photographs, signs, artwork, short videos and other materials that will help future generations learn what life was like in Seattle during this unique period in history. Here are some prompts to get you started:

· What has your daily life been like?

· What are ways you are staying connected with friends and family?

· What will you remember the most 10 years from now?

You can submit stories and materials through our online portal; they will be made available through the Special Collections Online website. The Library also welcomes donations of physical materials, which can be mailed to our Special Collections Department. To learn more about how you can contribute to the project, please visit our website!

NEED FOOD? OR, GOT FOOD TO DONATE? Check out West Seattle’s newest Little Free Pantry.

PHOTOS? TIPS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Midway through May, we present tonight’s roundup of virus-crisis info:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*7,360 people have tested positive, up 53 from yesterday

*516 people have died, up 2 from Wednesday (remember, no additional deaths yesterday)

One week ago, those totals were 6,940 and 485.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.

REQUESTED, NOT REQUIRED; When restaurants start reopening for in-person dining in Phase 2 (our area is not there yet), customers will be ASKED – not REQUIRED – to provide contact info, according to an update from Gov. Inslee today.

MORE PHASE 2 INFO: This time, for photography, construction, and golf. (Today’s announcement about the latter also includes some Phase 1 clarifications –

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: A state Health Department update provides the latest reason not to get complacent with your distancing:

A new statewide report shows COVID-19 transmission is persisting in western Washington and slowly increasing in eastern Washington. The measure of how many new infections a single COVID-19 case will produce – known as the effective reproductive number – has not changed significantly in either region since the last statewide report, and continues to be higher than ideal.

WANT TO HELP? Maybe you’ll consider giving a home to a Little Free Pantry.

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE: Another sweet neighborhood sighting, just emailed by Emily:

GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

(Friday night’s sunset – now a bit later every day! – photographed by Brian Michel)

Welcome to Saturday! Here’s what’s happening in West Seattle – first, the holiday-related lineup, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

C & P HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: 8 am-2 pm, shop local at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) with local makers there to show and sell their creations.

DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE ART MARKET: Missed the one after Thanksgiving? Here’s another chance to see and buy the creations of Native artists, 10 am-5:30 pm each day at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW).

SANTA AT MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: At 4736 California SW in The Junction:

Santa is making his annual visit to Three Little Birds: 10 am-1 pm. Families can sign in and then will be called when their turn comes. They CAN take their own photos, or have us take them as well, tell Santa what their Christmas wish is, and then get a treat to go. The cost is $5 per family.

ART UNWRAPPED!: Noon-5 pm at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), “artist community meetup and pop-up market.”

ALEX BAIRD AT THRIFTWAY: Live holiday music at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) with Alex Baird, noon-3 pm.

MARKET AND ANNIVERSARY: From Allison at Cascadia Wicks, one of the vendors: 1-5 pm market – with Santa at 4 pm – at Future Primitive’s White Center location, where FP is celebrating its 5th anniversary. Cascadia Wicks will be donating 10% of candle sales to White Center Food Bank. (9832 14th SW)

SEATTLE METROPOLITAN SINGERS: “A Ceremony of Winter Carols,” 3 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW).

SANTA PUB CRAWL: Wear your Santa suit and join neighbors roaming between Junction bars and pubs. 5 pm-11 pm (locations here). Raising money for Furry Faces Foundation.

SANTA AT MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: St. Nick is scheduled to appear at West Seattle’s favorite Christmas-lights display (5605 Beach Drive SW) with two of his reindeer, 5-9 pm – hot cocoa will be served; and donations will b collected:

Donation Collections for WestSide Baby and West Seattle Food Bank. Donation bins will be set up at the Menashe home 5 – 9 pm. Most needed items for WestSide Baby: winter coats, hats and gloves, pajamas, rain books, blankets, books and toys, Pull Ups (sizes 2T – 5T) and diapers (sizes 3 – 6). Most needed items for the West Seattle Food Bank: non-perishable food (not opened, in good condition), shelf stable milk, healthy snacks, low-sodium and no-sugar foods, and pet food and kitty litter for their Pet Pantry.

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show starts at 5 pm on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times and admission prices vary. Tickets and info here.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: At Fauntleroy UCC Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW): “Come see artistically decorated trees in a variety of themes. Bring non-perishable food items to ‘vote’ for your favorites.” 6-7 pm.

FAUNTLEROY CHURCH CONCERT: Come for the trees, then stay for the Christmas concert at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 7 pm.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: The radio-play edition of Twelfth Night Productions‘ beloved show continues at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm – ticket info and other details on the Brown Paper Tickets website.

‘SNOWED IN’ SOLD OUT: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) presents its holiday production, described as a “a journey of song, dance, friendship, family, and the true meaning of the holidays.” 7:30 pm. No tickets available online – but you can doublecheck with the box office.

COOKIE’S FESTIVE MIRACLES: Holiday drag show at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 9 pm. 21+.

OUT AT THE BOX HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: Holiday drag show at Box Bar (5401 California SW), 9:30 pm. 21+. Plus: “Box Bar will also be making $5 vegan Jell-O shots, with proceeds being donated to West Seattle Food Bank.”

*************Here are the non-holiday happenings, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE GROUP RUN: Start your Saturday with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run! All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.

HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event.

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR CHAS REDMOND: The longtime community advocate will be celebrated 1-4 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). RSVP here. At 2 pm, when a short program begins, a live stream is planned for those who can’t be there in person – here’s the link.

VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Try the fall-release red wines!

BURGERS & BEATS: Saturday night food and music at Revelry Room – burgers start at 6, DJs at 9. (4547 California SW, alley side)

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

‘GREAT NIGHT’: Saturday night program for young adults 18+ to hang out 7 pm-midnight, at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).

Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or holiday-season happening, or ? If the community’s welcome, get your event on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(Rendering of PCC Burien store, by MG2)

Every time we mention the new PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) store under construction in West Seattle, opening next year, people ask about the opening date for the new one in Burien – and it’s just been announced: May 23rd. For those who plan to travel south to shop until PCC’s new West Seattle store is ready, here’s the full announcement we just received:

PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S., today announced May 23rd as the opening date for its newest location in Burien. The new store is the first for PCC south of Seattle. Located in the Five Corners Shopping Center at 15840 1st Ave. S., the 25,000 square-foot store will become the area’s first certified organic grocery and PCC’s first location slated to operate on 100 percent renewable energy.

With a long-standing commitment to the neighborhoods in which it operates, PCC will bring more than 100 union jobs to the community with its Burien store. PCC also will expand its charitable giving program through community partnerships with the Des Moines Food Bank and the Highline School District. PCC secured a $5,000 grant to Para Los Ninos as well, through the co-op’s partnership with the Paul Newman Foundation.

“We are always excited to join a new community and introduce all that PCC offers to future members and new shoppers — whether that’s our fresh, sustainably sourced organic foods; community support, food donations and giving; or new job opportunities we add to the economy,” said Cate Hardy, PCC Community Markets CEO. “The passion we’ve seen for Burien PCC through letters, emails and social media posts shows the feeling is mutual, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone into the new store.”

As with PCC’s other locations, Burien PCC will celebrate products that are fresh, local, organic, sustainably sourced and seasonal. More than 95 percent of PCC’s produce selection is organic; its meats are 100 percent organic, non-GMO or grass fed; its seafood is sustainably sourced adhering to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch standards; and, whenever possible, the co-op sources its products from local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers. Using those same ingredients, PCC chefs make salads, soups, entrées and side dishes fresh from scratch daily onsite in each store.

Additional highlights of the new store include:

§ New subscription-free, grab-and-go PCC meal kits featuring easy-to-make original recipes — like Sesame-Gochujang Steak with Kimchi Fried Rice & Shirred Egg, and Simple Cassoulet with Chicken and Sausage. Each kit is hand-packed in PCC kitchens and includes fresh, organic produce and non-GMO, locally raised meats along with compostable, recyclable packaging.

§ PCC Pizzeria with fresh-from-the-pizza-oven and take-and-bake pies.

§ PCC Taqueria with pork adobado, beef barbacoa, roasted squash and garbanzos, chicken verde, rice and beans, aguas frescas and freshly prepared salsas.

§ PCC Yogurt Bar featuring PCC Organic Grass-fed Yogurt from Pure Éire Dairy, the only local, organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, animal welfare-certified yogurt of its kind — including the newest flavor on the block: lemon.

§ Handcrafted espresso and tea beverages and freshly baked goods, such as scratch-made breakfast biscuits and the PCC “Crownie,” a chocolate chip cookie, brownie mash-up drizzled with caramel.

§ A carefully curated selection of Pacific Northwest-produced spirits to complement the co-op’s collection of exclusive wines and local beers and ciders.

§ An affordable line of certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified pantry staples from Field Day, including more than 150 items from canned beans and extra virgin olive oil to peanut butter and oatmeal. PCC also offers a wide selection of bulk items, where shoppers can get just the amount they need while reducing packaging.

§ Free cookbooks to borrow from or donate to PCC’s Little Free Cookbook Library, celebrating the joy of cooking in the community.

Burien PCC was thoughtfully designed to deliver on PCC’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and to help reduce PCC’s carbon footprint. Tracking to LEED v4 certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, PCC has put into place systems and features to reduce lighting use by 25 percent and fresh water consumption by 45 percent annually. The store is planning to operate on 100 percent renewable energy through renewable energy credit purchases after the store opens. Seattle-based MG2 is the architect of record for the new Burien PCC store. The developer is Powell Development Company and the general contractor is Woodman Construction, Inc.

The new location is the first for PCC south of Seattle, serving Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Sea-Tac, White Center and all areas in-between, and will act as the interim go-to for West Seattle shoppers until the store reopens in 2019.

Burien PCC’s grand opening celebration will kick off at 8:45 a.m. and feature an official “pineapple cutting”— the fruit is the universal symbol of welcome and hospitality — with fresh, organic pineapple giveaways for the first 112 people in celebration of PCC’s 12th store. The store officially opens at 9 a.m.

If you can’t get to Burien, remember that PCC grocery delivery continues to be available in West Seattle via Instacart.

Ever heard the sound of what it takes to power an industrial-size walk-in freezer?

Click To Play

That’s one of the sights and sounds of our recent video tour of the White Center Food Bank. What were we doing there? Backstory: Last November, we took you inside the West Seattle Food Bank for a behind-the-scenes mini-tour. Then we got a recent invitation to come visit the “other” food bank serving part of West Seattle — the White Center Food Bank — where we learned about the service boundaries between WSFB’s area and WCFB’s area, and a whole lot more:Read More