(Editor’s note: We’ve been checking in with major local nonprofits as Christmas approaches, to see what they need and how they’re doing. Earlier stories: West Seattle Food Bank, here; White Center Food Bank, here.)

(Photo courtesy WS Helpline: Volunteer Donavyn with mom LaTista)

By Lauri Hennessey
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The West Seattle Helpline tells us their goal is pretty simple this holiday season: keep as many people sheltered as possible. And, every time someone donates $200 between now and Christmas (do it online!), that means one more family gets to stay in their home through Christmas.

The Helpline helps local families with rent and utilities, clothing (through the West Seattle Clothesline), Metro Transit tickets and school supplies.

Executive director Anna Fern says every $200 means a family doesn’t lose a home this season because landlords will accept partial rent payments more than in the past.

(Read on for more of how to help – how WS Helpline is helping – and for details on a savory fundraiser in The Junction tomorrow.)

“These are incredibly tough times,” she says. “We give the landlords something, and they work with us. They are not evicting as quickly any more because of the huge numbers of people who are struggling.”

Fern says many people who are coming to the Helpline have had their hours cut back, or they have lost their jobs but have not yet started receiving unemployment.

She says the people of West Seattle have always been incredibly generous, and they have been again this holiday season. One women called and asked how to help, and Fern told her the Clothesline was short on kids’ shoes. The family of four went out and bought 13 pairs of shoes and delivered them.

This season a lot of people are requesting shoes, kids’ clothing, and blankets.

Fern says the requests are up 25 percent from last year, and she receives 25 to 30 calls each day from someone look for blankets or clothing. She also gets calls from people needing rent or help with utilities. She talked to someone last week who called for rent help, though their water has already been turned off.

“Our requests are more basic survival this year, not just toys,” she says.

Fern says the frustration and fear is clearly high, and many of her clients still have some work coming in — they just can’t get by.

If you want to help, you can go to the website at westseattlehelpline.org and donate. Or, you can call the Helpline at 932.4357.

“Everyone can pitch in to keep families in their homes this season,” she says. “That is what they need — to be together, without fear of being evicted. One mom told me her kids all say their Christmas wish is just to not be evicted before then. They don’t want to move. It’s really not so much to ask for.”

WS Helpline will also benefit from a fundraiser tomorrow (Sunday 12/20) at West 5 in The Junction – Hot Toddy Brunch, all day long, 10 am-4 pm.