We’ve been checking in with major nonprofits – the people whose business is helping people — over the past week, to see what they need by Christmas. Our previous stories: West Seattle Food Bank here, White Center Food Bank here, West Seattle Helpline here. Tonight; WestSide Baby, which helps families in need not just throughout West Seattle/White Center, but beyond – and they have a very specific wish list.

By Lauri Hennessey
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Have time with the kids in the next two days? Take the chance to show them the true meaning of Christmas, and in the process, help WestSide Baby meets its holiday collection goal. The nonprofit is still short of its goal, and only has until Wednesday to make the target.

Nancy Woodland, executive director of WestSide Baby, says she set her goal for the December collection drive at 25,000 diapers, 100 coats, and 50 car seats. As of this afternoon, the community had collected enough coats to meet the goal, but WestSide Baby was still 3,000 diapers short of the goal. And, WestSide Baby is far behind on collecting the car seats.

“We’ve noticed a 13% increase in the number of children served this year compared to last,” she says. Woodland says WestSide Baby has served the needs of 400 children in the last ten days, an unheard of number for the organization. Woodland says that is roughly double the usual number for this time of year. In fact, she says, since October 1, WestSide Baby has seen unprecedented need. She says they have served more than $33,000 worth of supplies through White Center’s Neighborhood House alone. Diapers are not covered by food stamps or other government programs and cost approximately 23 cents each.

(More specifics on how to help – and where to take those donations the next 2 days – ahead!)

“The big need is diapers and carseats right now,” Woodland says. “We need the larger-sized diapers. And we will take carseats that are gently worn, as long as they are less than six years old. But of course, a new car seat would be just wonderful,” she says.

Contrary to what many may think, WestSide Baby serves kids all the way through grade school (up to size 12), and it serves kids throughout King County. Those needs are met by partnerships that WestSide Baby has with more than 100 local service organizations. All told, the organization has helped more than 14,200 kids this year.

Among the many places in the West Seattle area that collect for WestSide Baby are Cafe Revo, The Little Gym of West Seattle, Fauntleroy Church (preceding 3 are WSB sponsors), Viking Bank, Red Cup Espresso, Westwood Village Santa House, Holy Rosary, Coffee to a Tea with Sugar (in The Junction), and C & P Coffee. Woodland says that parents can go to any of those places with their kids Tuesday or Wednesday to donate clothing, toys, or much more and teach their children about giving.

“We can tell our children that Christmas is about giving, but it means so much more to actually show them,” she said. “When they see that, it is something they will remember, something they will hold onto,” she said.

Woodland says many families come to a site bearing kids’ allowances or savings that have been collected to help out at the holidays.

“It is truly wonderful to see how generous kids can be,” she says.

So now’s your chance — no matter what your age — can our community muster up 40 car seats and 3,000 diapers to donate before Christmas?

E-mail Nancy Woodland at nancy@westsidebaby.org or drop your donation in any of the places listed above. For more information on WestSide Baby, go to www.westsidebaby.org