West Seattle, Washington
07 Thursday
Warm-hearted people keep offering help. Here’s one place that can use it – the Senior Center of West Seattle. An update from interim executive director Amy Lee Derenthal:
Help us help our seniors! Make a donation to provide food to a senior in our community.
At the Senior Center of West Seattle, we’re uniquely qualified to reach out to seniors in our community. Our building in the Junction has been closed since March 6th but we’re still providing essential services of delivering daily lunches, groceries from the West Seattle Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.
We want to continue doing this and need your help. As we make calls and check-in with our members and participants we’re learning what they need from us and we want to be able to fulfill their needs and expand the outreach in to the community.
Here are three ways we’re asking the community to help out:
1. DONATE. So you can help us continue and expand our essential needs programs to seniors in our community. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SECURE DONATION
2. VOLUNTEER. So you can help us deliver the items seniors are requesting and any other help we may find we need. Please email SCWSVolunteer@soundgenerations.org if you are able to help out (please note: we are asking people 60+ to stay home per the King County Health Department so we’re not accepting applications from anyone over 60 at this time.)
3. CONNECTING US TO SENIORS. Email us at info.scws@soundgenerations.org or call 206.932.4044 x 1 if you know of a senior who doesn’t have family or friends to help them out. We’ll do our best to connect with them and offer services.
We’re also exploring purchasing meals from our local restaurants for delivery but do not have the funds to do this at this time. If we get enough support through this fund drive, we’ll work to support our local community in this way while feeding seniors.
The photo is of a poster at Highland Park improvement Club – we’ve reported on the community effort there to get food to kids, and now they’ve sent word:
We need volunteers!
We need to get all this generously donated food to our students by having a daily distribution. If you are healthy and not at risk, please help us reach families by signing up at the link below. Social-distancing protocols are in place. Thank you!
HPIC is at 1116 SW Holden.
Though Providence‘s campaign has been called off, here’s a new local call for help:
Hello West Seattle Friends,
As you know, the request for homemade masks from Providence has been fulfilled. If you are looking for other mask-making opportunities, we have a beloved local grocery store who can use 150 masks, especially as they have set aside special hours for at-risk folks. Employees are not required to wear them but many have expressed an interest. While these are not medical-grade masks, they are the two-ply, 100% cotton model being used by Deaconess Hospital in Indiana that created this instructional video. According to the NIH “homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals, but it would be better than no protection.” We are also waiting to hear from Harborview to see if they too would like some of the homemade masks. If so, we will put out another call for volunteers. Please email bettertogether206@gmail.com
Thank you. Stay safe. Stay Hopeful.
Other ways you can help are in our longrunning “How to Help” WSB coverage archive.
If you have extra personal protection equipment to donate so those on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines can be adequately protected – coordinated collection events are under way. Thanks to the readers who were first to spot both of these sites where you can sign up !
CITY OF SEATTLE SURVEY: Sign up here if you have something to donate. The form asks about:
Basic Isolation Masks
N95 Masks
P100 Masks
Surgical Masks
Eye wear
Disposable Gowns
Gloves
As explained here, donors who sign up there will be contacted for coordination of pickup or dropoff. Questions? PPEdonations@seattle.gov
UNION-LED EFFORT: Unopened boxes of masks (preferably N95), gowns, eye protection, and gloves are sought by this drive (or other medical equipment that might be offered) – read more and sign up here.
11:44 AM: Multiple readers flagged us to this – the health-care organization Providence is asking for volunteers to agree to sew at least 100 masks each. They’re providing the materials, but you need your own machine. So far their only announced pickup location is in Renton, but you can sign up for notification when there’s something closer (considering that Providence does have facilities in West Seattle including The Mount). Interested? Sign up here.
2 PM: The list has since been filled up, readers report in comments below.
Here’s something kids can do – adults too – to help seniors, who are isolated more than ever in an attempt to keep them safe. Natalie from The Kenney sent this announcement:
Are you wanting to make a difference and brighten a senior’s day during this difficult time, without much effort or money? We are looking for volunteers to join The Kenney Pen Pal Program. You can connect with our community’s wonderful seniors, whether you’re young or old. You can bring joy and happiness to a resident, while keeping them safe in their apartment at The Kenney!
How to participate:
1. Start by writing a handwritten letter introducing yourself and asking the resident questions about themselves.
2. Mail letter to “My Future Pen Pal” at the address below:
7125 Fauntleroy Way SW
Seattle, WA 98136-20083. Please include an address for the resident to mail back their return letter.
4. The Kenney staff will assign each resident wanting to participate a pen pal and will help residents send their letters back out to their pen pals.
We’re building a West Seattle “how to help” list – if you have something for it, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The good news: Lots of interest in helping ensure blood is available. The not-as-good news: If you signed up for the March 27th drive at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), you need to re-register – there’s a new location. WSR co-proprietor Tim McConnell explains:
The West Seattle Runner Blood Drive had to be moved, as Bloodworks Northwest could no longer have blood drives on their buses due to social distancing issues.
The event has been moved to the Combat Arts Academy of Seattle, 5050 Delridge Way SW. It is now listed as West Seattle Community Blood Drive, and is combining 3 different drives into this one day. Anyone who signed up for the drive in front of West Seattle Runner needs to reschedule for this new event, as all appointments have been cancelled.
The new link is schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/GroupLanding.aspx?s=437B
We appreciate everyone who signed up; we had more than 45 people schedule in less than 4 hours, such a great response! Please be sure to reschedule, as blood donations are at a critically low level.
Thanks, Lori and Tim – West Seattle Runner
The question “how can I help?” continues to resound. Here’s updated information from the West Seattle Food Bank, along with gratitude:
We at the West Seattle Food Bank would like to give a big THANK YOU to all of the incredibly generous neighbors that have reached out to help us by donating funds, food, and your time. We are very humbled by your support and appreciate your dedication to keeping our neighbors fed and safe in their homes. It is our priority to keep our community healthy while continuing to ensure all our neighbors have access to food, emergency financial assistance, diapers, and other basic needs.
At this time, the Food Bank will remain open; however, how we provide our services has been in transition as we adapt to changing circumstances. We continue to provide Home Delivery services; we are communicating with community partners to determine how to best ensure our students stay fed during school closures; and we continue to process requests for financial assistance. The Clothesline is closed until further notice.
We realize that there are many in our community who need help in many ways. We have put together an extensive list of financial assistance resources for the greater Seattle area that we’re hoping will help.
Your support through monetary gifts continues to allow us the flexibility of using funds for specific needs that arise from this evolving situation. You can donate here to help your neighbors during this difficult time.
A few days ago, health authorities warned that the blood-bank system was “in danger of collapse” if more people didn’t/couldn’t donate. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) has a mobile blood drive scheduled for March 27th – one week from Friday – and is asking donors to sign up now:
We are holding a Blood drive in front of our store on Friday the 27th from 12-6. To donate, people must schedule an appointment time from their website schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/GroupLanding.aspx?s=423B
In regards to COVID-19, they ask the following of potential donors:
Donors, please do not donate today if any of the following apply to you within the last 28 days:
*You traveled to any area with novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
– For example: city of Wuhan China and Hubei Provence of China
*You lived with individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having novel COVID-19 infection.
*You have been diagnosed with or suspected of having novel COVID-19 infection.
West Seattle Runner is at 2743 California SW.
Anybody else with a coordinated way to safely help – let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – or text/call 206-293-6302
As the virus crisis throws more families into economic insecurity – and worsens the situation for many who were already there – WestSide Baby is focused on emergency diaper distribution. We were at the nonprofit’s White Center hub at midday today as case managers for struggling families stopped by to pick up extra boxes of diapers. By the time we stopped by, they had loaded more than three dozen vehicles with about 70,000 diapers.
WS Baby’s interim executive director Sara Cody Roth explains, “Our mission to meet children’s basic needs to keep them safe, warm and dry is more important and more urgent than ever before.” And while many have asked about volunteer or material needs, which usually they accept joyfully, they’ve suspended that for now – what they need most so they can keep buying discounted diapers is money – here’s how to donate if you can.
For everyone who is ready to help … the best place to start is your own immediate neighborhood, especially if you know of older or otherwise high-risk people who live nearby. In that spirit, volunteers have developed a guide for what to do to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus (or any others) while you’re getting or receiving help. Thanks to Cindi Barker of the Neighborhood Emergency Hubs for sharing this. We suggest printing if you can (here’s the PDF version).
11:51 AM: The photo and announcement are from the Lafayette Elementary PTA in The Admiral District:
Lafayette Elementary families have been donating food, books and games for our community. All are located in tubs in the front of our school daily M-F from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. We’d like to invite anyone in need to visit and to help themselves. If you would like more information, you can email the PTA at lafayette.pta.seattle@gmail.com.
Lafayette is at 2645 California SW [map]. We are checking on whether they’re accepting more donations.
1:26 PM: The reply: “The bins are on the smaller side so we will have volunteers to come and collect excesses and check on the amounts in the containers periodically. If they would like to donate but don’t want to drop off at the school, they can email the lafayette PTA address and we can organize a drop-off location.”
8:06 PM FRIDAY: Announced today – a chance to help The Admiral District‘s beverage businesses stay afloat:
These last few weeks have been really tough for a lot of local businesses in the Admiral Junction. Here is your chance to help out. This Sunday, March 15th, join us for a bar crawl to support your favorite local businesses. Each of these businesses will be running drink specials and food specials.
5 pm – The Nook
5:30 pm – Yen Wor (in the bar in the back)
6 pm – Admiral Pub
6:30 pm – Arthur’s
7 pm – Mission Cantina
7:30 pm – Copper Coin
8 pm – Parliament Tavern
8:30 pm – CircaIf you can’t join us for the bar crawl, please try and stop by on Sunday to one of these businesses, and if you can’t stay, you can always buy gift cards. Any amount of support would be greatly appreciated from all your favorite bartenders, servers, cooks, dishwashers, and barbacks in the Admiral Junction.
Starting point The Nook is at 2206 California SW.
ADDED 11:15 AM SATURDAY: The proprietors have just told us this is off, after they discussed further and agreed the “social distancing” recommendations might be tough to meet.
The Highland Park Elementary PTA is working to ensure community members stay fed. If you need help – or can offer help – here’s what Laura Olson, co-president, sent us along with the photos:
We are here at Highland Park Elementary, handing out grocery bags of food and sack lunches to our school families. We’ll be here all day, until 7 and again tomorrow.
Food is available to our community members in need; please stop by. We are taking donations of food or volunteers, and donations can be made via PayPal to hpemustang@gmail.com. Thank you for your help! The more support we receive, the more families we can help during this school closure.
HPE is at 1012 SW Trenton [map].
Many have asked how they can help neighbors in the midst of all this. We sent that question to the West Seattle Food Bank, for starters. Here’s how executive director Fran Yeatts replied, with an update on ther operations as well as what you can do to help:
We want to keep our community healthy while still ensuring access to basic needs!
In light of the news regarding COVID-19, we are taking measures to keep our spaces safe for clients and volunteers. It is our priority to keep our community healthy while continuing to ensure all our neighbors have access to food, emergency financial assistance, diapers, and other basic needs.
Here’s how we are moving forward with our services:
· At this time, the Food Bank will remain open. We have slightly expanded hours in order to limit the number of individuals in the food bank at one time. Our lobby is closed so shoppers are waiting outside. We are continually cleaning surfaces and carts and encouraging social distancing while at the food bank.
The Clothesline will be closed until further notice.
We continue to process requests for financial assistance for eviction notices and utility shut off notices.
We will communicate with community partners to determine how to best ensure our students stay fed during school closures.
We will continue to provide Home Delivery services to those on our list and add deliveries as able for individuals unable to get to the food bank due to illness.
We will not be taking any new orders through the Baby & Child Corner but will distribute orders on hand and diapers & supplies if they are available.
People at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and anyone in poor health are encouraged to stay home.
Here’s how you can help:
· Financial assistance allows us the flexibility of using funds for specific needs that arise from this situation. If interested in providing financial assistance, please donate here.
· This is a very fluid situation. As we identify additional ways this community can assist, we will keep you posted.
As we’ve been reporting, the West Seattle Food Bank recently merged with the West Seattle Helpline, so its mission is broader than ever, keeping people from becoming homeless, as well as fighting hunger.
(Photo courtesy Seattle Parks)
Once again this year, you’re invited to become a SUNGuide – here’s what that’s all about:
Become a SUNGuide!
Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote, and foster appreciation of nature by connecting students with their Seattle parklands, and providing active learning opportunities in nature.
As a SUNGuide, you will:
*Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
*Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
*Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences and equity concepts
*Lead hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to forests
*Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s destination Parks while helping others do the sameTo Apply
Review the position description, training schedule, and apply online by Thursday, March 19, 2020!
Four months after the plan was announced, the West Seattle Food Bank–WS Helpline merger is complete. Today’s announcement explains what that means for everyone who uses their services – and for the community at large:
As of today, the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline’s merge into one stronger organization is complete. We are excited to combine forces and, with our neighbors like you, improve and expand our services in this community.
Joined together as one organization, our comprehensive services include:
Food Bank services, including our Shopping Model Food Bank, the Mobile Food Bank, and Home Delivery Service. The Shopping Model Food Bank is our primary location that offers food, pet food, and other items to families in need. For those who have difficulty getting to the Food Bank, we offer a Mobile Food Bank service that distributes food to four apartment buildings and the Senior Center in West Seattle. Finally, we also offer the Home Delivery Service, which delivers groceries to those with limited mobility.
Helpline services, which provides emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness, immanent evictions, and utility shut-offs. We also provide free bus tickets to those who financially qualify. These trips ensure clients’ transportation to school, work, the food bank, medical appointments, and more.
The Clothesline, our free clothing bank, where clients can shop for basic attire, professional wear, school clothing, and more.
The Taking Care of Children initiatives, including the Backpack Program and the Baby & Child Corner programs. The Backpack Program partners with local schools to provide six kid friendly meals each week to students at risk of hunger. The Baby & Child Corner provides families essential items, like diapers and formula, for their infant or toddler.
Community Connections, which links community members with vital services such as emergency rent support, assistance finding employment, healthcare, language services, and more. In addition, the Bookcase Program allows clients to take home up to 10 books each visit.
All the needed programs that both agencies provided in the past will continue as we move to serve this community in a more efficient and effective manner. Please visit westseattlefoodbank.org for more information.
The WSFB remains headquartered at 35th/Morgan; its executive director Fran Yeatts remains in that role with the newly expanded organization. The first big fundraising event for the newly expanded WSFB is the Instruments of Change dinner/auction May 9th – more on that here.
We’re now less than two weeks away from a fun night that’s a big benefit in more ways than one – here’s the invitation:
Please join us for the West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance 2020!
Friday, March 13th from 5:30 – 9 pm
West Seattle High School Commons
Tickets – $30 advance online/$35 at the door/$10 dance onlyFeaturing the West Seattle Big Band
Also performing: WSHS Jazz Ensembles, Band, Orchestra, and ChoirTickets and more information at www.wshsmusic.org
What is the Big Band Dinner Dance? The Dinner Dance is the WSHS Music Program’s largest community event, offering music from West Seattle Big Band and all the WSHS Music Ensembles. A wonderful dinner is prepared and served by WSHS Culinary Students, and along with non-alcoholic beverages, is included with your admission. The Dance Floor will be open to all. Between sets, opportunities to support our musicians will be available with a raffle, a few special items for auction, and direct donation.
Have an item or service to donate? We’ll be raffling off baskets with all types of items, gift cards, and services. We’d love to receive something from you, and if you’d like, we’ll add it to our advertising and communications. Please contact us at westseattle.musicboosters@gmail.com.
What does the Dinner Dance benefit? West Seattle High School Music is growing! Each year our program gets bigger and we need more of everything – music, uniforms, instruments, coaching, transportation, scholarships for trips, and more.
Questions? westseattle.musicboosters@gmail.com or visit wshsmusic.org.
(WSB photos)
12:04 PM: Got a bike, parts, and/or accessories you don’t need any more? Bring them to the lot behind Hope Lutheran (42nd/Oregon in The Junction) by 1 pm for the Bike Works drive that Spencer Mueller is hosting!
40+ bikes so far.
12:29 PM: Added photos. Spencer attends school and church at Hope Lutheran and explained that a service project is required as part of confirmation – he’s “always been passionate about bicycling” and thought about trail-building but decided to do this instead, so Bike Works could fix up donated bicycles and get them to people in need. And thanks to generous WSB readers – Spencer’s dad told us he’s been asking donors how they heard about it, and most cited WSB.
As noted in our daily highlights, this is Day One of this year’s Girl Scout Cookie sales. And the return of the rain is NOT getting in the way:
Thanks to @patrickgerding for tweeting that photo from Seacrest, where Troop 44428 is selling cookies right now. Meantime, while out on errands, we found Troop 41196 at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) – Mira and Margaret were by the south door:
Many other locations – use the lookup to find locations and times. New cookie this year, if you haven’t heard – Lemon-Ups have joined the lineup. This year’s cookie sales continue through March 15th.
*NEW DATE: MAY 1ST*
Got plans for Saturday night next weekend? Go back in time and help local students get ahead! Here’s the invitation:
Madison Middle School’s Roaring ’20s Gala
Come Join Us For an Evening of Fun, Food, and Fundraising!
Saturday, March 7th from 5:30-11:00 PM at the beautiful The Sanctuary at Admiral- we’d love to have you participate!
Visit our website for tickets, to make a donation, and learn more about our mission.
Thank you for supporting our group and our goals!
for questions, email: fundraising@madisonptsa.com
Fun fact– Madison Middle School & The Sanctuary both opened in the 1920s!!
(The venue is a former church, designated a city landmark in 2009.)
Help a local teen get others moving! Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Bike Drive
Saturday, February 29th
10 am-1 pmDrop off your used unwanted bike, bike parts, and bike accessories to benefit Bike Works, promoting the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities.
Hosted by 8th grader Spencer Mueller
**Parking lot behind** Hope Lutheran Church & School
4456 42nd Avenue SW
(WSB photo from 2019 West Seattle 5K)
As noted in today’s edition of the West Seattle High School newsletter Westside Weekly, the date is set for this year’s West Seattle 5K – Sunday, May 17th. It’s the 12th annual run/walk to raise money for the WSHS PTA to help students; WSB has been a sponsor every year since the start, and we’ve signed on again. THey’re still seeking more sponsors, so if your business/organization is interested, email westseatttle5k@westseattle5k.com. Meantime, if you just want to run/walk – the route’s along Alki – stay tuned, as registration opens soon.
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