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COUNTDOWN: Five days until Polar Plunge all-day Alki festival benefiting Special Olympics
February 17, 2020 12:10 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Five days until Polar Plunge all-day Alki festival benefiting Special Olympics
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo from February 2019 Polar Plunge, courtesy Andrew Malinak)

Saturday (February 22) is the big day: The Seattle Polar Plunge at Alki, with an all-day beer and food-truck festival, benefiting Special Olympics of Washington. The Plunge is at 1 pm; the beer tent and food trucks open at 11 am. Not registered yet? You can sign up to plunge alone or as part of a team – all the info, and the registration link, can be found here. Beer and food are separate, but you can get advance tickets for the beer festival by going here.

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YOU CAN HELP: Victim Support Team looking for new members
February 10, 2020 10:53 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Victim Support Team looking for new members
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Forwarded by Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner:

Domestic violence is a community issue.

In the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will be victims of DV in their lifetimes.

For the last 24 years, community members have partnered Seattle Police with to address and prevent domestic violence.

The Seattle Police Department recognizes the time immediately following a police response as a critical window for survivors to make empowered choices. However, emergency support and resources are often limited and hard to access.

We need your help.

The Victim Support Team (VST) is a rewarding volunteer opportunity to offer support when it is needed the most. VST is a mobile crisis team, operating on the weekends, responding city-wide to offer on-scene and over-the-phone support. Volunteers work in teams of two and provide resource referral, safety planning, and emergency supplies.

VST is now recruiting new volunteers for their Spring Training Academy!

Deadline to submit an online application is March 11th, 2020. Volunteers must be 21+, have a Valid WA license, and pass an SPD background check. To apply or find out more, check out www.seattle.gov/police/vst.

For additional information or questions, please contact the VST Volunteer Supervisor at spd.vst@seattle.gov or call (206) 615-0892.

The Victim Support Team is committed to connecting all community members, in every neighborhood, to this unique opportunity.

For more about what the VST does, see this WSB story from 2013, when a local volunteer spoke to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.

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GRATITUDE: West Seattle Food Bank gets a big gift from Combat Arts Academy
February 5, 2020 7:26 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Food Bank sent word of a big gift from Combat Arts Academy:

The West Seattle Food Bank would like to shout out a huge thank you to the students, parents & staff of Combat Arts Academy on Delridge & in Burien for the incredible results of their annual food drive – 6000 lbs. & $190!

It’s amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it and the two students in the pictures below, Alex & Calla, are a big part of these results. They have been collecting for these food drives since 2014!

You can help WSFB any time too – start here!

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YOU CAN HELP! How to turn playground dreams into reality
February 4, 2020 9:14 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP! How to turn playground dreams into reality
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

A new playground at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 would benefit the Delridge neighborhood beyond the school community – and you can help make it happen. Here’s an update:

Louisa Boren’s Friends of a New Playground needs a show of community support and engagement to be eligible for a $50,000 grant that will be used to create a master plan for a school and community playground.

Currently, there are 20 volunteers that have pledged time and we need pledge support from at least 100 people. Volunteering, for this phase of the project, looks like attending meetings, providing feedback on designs, and donating supplies for meetings.

Children are encouraged to be a part of this process and they can be included in the volunteer pledge portion of the application, adding to the total hours that we need to reach to be considered for grant approval (and can count as volunteer hours for them as well!).

If you know of community members that want to see improvements to the Delridge Neighborhood, please share the link with them and get them to support our playground.

Please take a minute to fill out the online form to pledge volunteer time and support.

1. Sign up!

2. Share!

3. Show up!

For more information: louisaborenplaygroundcommittee@gmail.com

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FOLLOWUP: Name finalized as West Seattle Food Bank, WS Helpline merger nears
February 4, 2020 7:45 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

When we first reported back in October on the plan for the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline to merge, some decisions were yet to be made – including what name the merged agency would use. That’s now been decided, as noted in an email update today from the Helpline – together they’ll be the West Seattle Food Bank, starting March 1st. The Helpline’s services, including emergency homelessness-prevention assistance and its clothing bank, will become part of WSFB – the organizations’ leaders promised no service cuts. They were also working on a fundraiser schedule and have announced that the big May WSFB gala, Instruments of Change, will continue as a fundraising dinner/auction for the merged agency. This year’s IOC is set for Saturday, May 9th – more details to come.

P.S. Lots of other fundraisers continue – this Saturday (February 8th), for example, you can support the Helpline by getting your hair cut during the annual Have A Heart Day at Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW; WSB sponsor), 10 am-2 pm, with $10 off all haircuts, donating all proceeds to WSH. Make your appointment ASAP at 206-938-3675.

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SWEET SALE: It’s Camp Fire candy time!
January 29, 2020 9:45 am
|    Comments Off on SWEET SALE: It’s Camp Fire candy time!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Camp Fire sent the photo with the news that it’s candy-sale time, through February 17th. The organization’s regional offices are right here in West Seattle (2414 SW Andover), and that’s one place you can buy candy, 9 am-3:30 pm weekdays. You can also buy it online, and you can watch the Camp Fire website map for other sale locations. The organization explains, “The sale teaches youth valuable skills including goal setting, public speaking and engaging with their community.” It’s $5 per box, and they also welcome businesses as Merchants of Merit by buying a case for $75. Don’t eat candy? “You can also support the sale by purchasing a box of candy that will be donated to our troops at USO Northwest.” Read more about the candy sale here.

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YOU’RE INVITED: Celebrate Mardi Gras with Holy Family School
January 28, 2020 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on YOU’RE INVITED: Celebrate Mardi Gras with Holy Family School
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

School-fundraiser season continues, and we’ve received another invitation to share with you:

Grab your beads, raise a glass … and then your paddle! Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School is hosting a Mardi Gras fundraising auction Saturday, March 7th, and tickets are on sale now!

Come enjoy a Cajun-inspired three-course dinner, drinks, and bid on some very exciting items, including Club-level Seahawks tickets, a Las Vegas getaway for two, a family weekend stay at Great Wolf Lodge, and much, much more!!

This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and 100% of the proceeds will be used to support our young scholars. Holy Family strives to provide our diverse scholars with a faith-based, dual-language education, rooted in academic excellence, to create students that are productive, global citizens.

Tickets are limited, so order now! This is an event you won’t want to miss!

When: Saturday, March 7th, doors open at 4:30pm
Where: Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, 9615 20th Ave SW (at Roxbury)

For more information, please email at auction@holyfamilybilingual.org or 206-767-6640. Look forward to seeing you there!

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COUNTDOWN: Less than a month until you can plunge, sip, snack at Alki to help Special Olympics
January 26, 2020 7:15 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Less than a month until you can plunge, sip, snack at Alki to help Special Olympics
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(February 2019 photo by Andrew Malinak)

The post-holidays stretch of winter tends to be a little light on big events, but one is now just under four weeks away: The Seattle Polar Plunge at Alki, with an all-day beer and food-truck festival, happening Saturday, February 22nd, benefiting Special Olympics of Washington. The Plunge is at 1 pm; the beer tent and food trucks open at 11 am. You can sign up to plunge alone or as part of a team – all the info, and the registration link, can be found here. Beer and food are separate, but you can get advance tickets for the beer festival at a discount by going here.

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2 local benefits for Australia bushfire crisis
January 19, 2020 5:03 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Next Saturday (January 25), two local benefits are planned to rally support for Australia’s bushfire victims. One is at Arthur’s in The Admiral District:

As noted when Arthur’s (2311 California SW) opened almost three years ago, the restaurant/bar is named after co-proprietor Rebecca Rice‘s Australian dad. So they have a special tie to the continent. As noted in the graphic above, you can either just drop in Saturday morning/afternoon/evening and part of your tab will be donated, or you can reserve a spot at the wine dinner – specifics on that are here.

The other benefit next Saturday is at LGBTQ+ bars around the metro area, with White Center’s Lumber Yard Bar participating. We published the preview on our partner site White Center Now; starting at 8 pm Saturday, the Lumber Yard and other participating venues will raise money for the Australian Community Disaster Relief Fund.

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You’re invited to FAL-CON! 5 reasons to go
January 19, 2020 10:53 am
|    Comments Off on You’re invited to FAL-CON! 5 reasons to go
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It’s school-fundraiser season and Fairmount Park Elementary invites everyone to its event, this year titled FAL-CON. Not only are you invited – organizers suggest five reasons for community members to buy tickets. Here’s their pitch:

Fairmount Park Elementary is throwing its annual PTA Auction on February 8th and wants YOU to BUY TICKETS!

“But why,” you ask? “I don’t have children in the school to benefit from a PTA fundraiser.”

There are lots of reasons you might want to support a local school! First off, maybe you feel strongly that children in your community should be able to read fluently – studies show that kids who aren’t reading at grade level by third grade will struggle rest of their educational career in processing information. Auction proceeds fund specialist positions and programs not in the school district budget.

Perhaps you like the idea kids learning to process complex emotions and situations appropriately. Having a school counselor on staff (also not funded by district) is key for social/emotional development!

You may be an outdoor enthusiast who loves the idea of kids getting the experience of going to wilderness camp – the annual auction helps make the 5th grade trip to Islandwood affordable and accessible to all students!

It could be you think teachers should not have to spend their own money on supplies for the class – the PTA covers that so they can focus planning lessons rather than stretching dollars. If you know a teacher, you also know how hard they work and that having the right tools makes all the difference.

Or maybe you just like to party! The Fairmount Park Elementary Auction is Comicon themed – named FAL-CON after the Fairmount Park Elementary mascot – the falcon! It will be over-the-top fun. For the price of admission you will get a full belly of delicious food offerings, a complimentary beverage, access to a bunch of elaborate games and movie inspired photo-ops. Plus, there will be great deals on donated items from West Seattle businesses! Often items in the silent and ticket auction go at or below retail value, so you could technically make money by attending and shopping for gift cards you can use all year.

Come to FAL-CON. Dress up, hang out, eat, drink, take a selfie with E.T., but most of all, support educational opportunities for local kids. After all, we all have to live with them once they grow up.

Auction details:
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2020
Time 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Location: The Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle.
Buy Tickets: https://fpepta.schoolauction.net/falcon2020/homepages/show

Got a school event – fundraiser or other type – open to the community? Send us info for our calendar (even just the basics) – we don’t know unless you tell us! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP! Here’s how you can be part of Highland Park Elementary’s WE Care drive
January 17, 2020 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP! Here’s how you can be part of Highland Park Elementary’s WE Care drive
 |   Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Highland Park Elementary hopes you can help their donation drive to help youth in need. Here’s the announcement:

WE Care for YouthCare!

Looking to clean out your closets this 3-day weekend?!

Our 5th-grade WE Care team (leadership/community activism) is working on gathering supplies for homeless youth in Seattle via the organization YouthCare.

We are specifically looking for:

Blankets/bedding/pillows
Socks
Hats (beanies)
Jackets/hoodies
Mittens
Shoes
Gloves
Gift cards (Target, Fred Meyer)
Pots/pans/utensils/dishes
Hygiene products
Non-perishable snacks
Umbrellas/rain gear
Gently used clothing

If so, please bring them to the Highland Park Elementary front office at 1012 SW Trenton St.

Leave them with Patti at the front desk.

She’ll be there until 3:30 pm today and then, after the Monday holiday, 7:15 am-3:30 pm weekdays.

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HAPPENING NOW: Music livestream from West Seattle raising money for mental health
December 27, 2019 2:27 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: Music livestream from West Seattle raising money for mental health
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

So it goes in the social-media sphere sometimes – we found out about that YouTube stream via an Instagram post: North Delridge’s Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) noted that its Mode Music and Performing Arts space next door is hosting the 3rd annual 24-hour livestream-a-thon by General Mojo’s. We remember the group from its 2018 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. General Mojo’s and special guests are performing to raise money for NAMI Seattle, explaining that it’s “the only organization in the Seattle area working specifically to fill the gaps in our local mental health system through peer-led education, referrals, and support.” Go to the event’s YouTube page for a donation list and specific instructions on how to be sure your donation is linked to the fundraiser.

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FOLLOWUP: Dakota Homestead project edges closer to goal. 2 ways you can help
December 23, 2019 1:44 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Neighbors gathered Wednesday night for an update about the Dakota Homestead fundraising campaign to purchase the former Seattle City Light substation at 50th and Dakota (just north of Genesee Hill Elementary).

The campaign was launched three and a half years ago by the Urban Homestead Foundation, with a goal of buying the Dakota site (most recently appraised in 2017 at a value of $650,000) and preserving it as a neighborhood greenspace, meeting hub, urban garden and environmental education center. The site is one of the six former substations in West Seattle that Seattle City Light had determined were no longer needed, which started a process to sell or otherwise dispose of the properties.

Urban Homestead president Rich Sheibley said that since 2016, the group has successfully secured community donations and grant funding to help support the project, but things really accelerated earlier this year when the project was earmarked for $155,000 in funding in the state capital budget as part of the state’s community projects program (more on that below).

Read More

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HOLIDAY GIVING: Time to bake cookies to donate!
December 21, 2019 6:02 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Feel like baking cookies, but don’t have anyone to bake for, and/or can’t eat them yourself? Or … baking cookies and have the bandwidth for an extra batch you could donate? Now’s the time to bake for The Christmas People, who again are putting out the call for thousands of homemade cookies that they can include with holiday meals to be delivered to people in need. You can drop off cookies 9 am-5 pm Monday or Tuesday, and starting at 9 am on Christmas Day, at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW). They’re also asking for volunteers to help prepare meal trays those days – and if you know someone in need of a no-cost holiday dinner, they’ll offer a full buffet, same location, noon-4 pm on Christmas Day. (Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay)

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COMMUNITY GIVING: Peel & Press’s holiday gift to West Seattle Food Bank
December 17, 2019 7:26 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:

Dan Austin, owner of Peel and Press, is a generous supporter of the West Seattle Food Bank. For the last 5 years Dan has done a percent-of-sales fundraiser for the food bank on Peel and Press’ anniversary in November and then buys turkeys or hams (whatever we need) for the holidays. Today Dan delivered $1,300 worth of hams just in time for our holiday distribution! Thank you, Dan, for helping those we serve have a wonderful holiday meal with their friends and families.

If you would like to help our families with food or cash, we will be open Wed. 9am – 7pm or Thurs. & Fri. 9 am – 3 pm or you can donate at westseattlefoodbank.org or mail to 3419 SW Morgan St., Seattle, WA. 98126.

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PHOTOS: Holiday shopping’s in the basket(s) at St. Nicholas Faire
December 15, 2019 1:40 pm
|    Comments Off on PHOTOS: Holiday shopping’s in the basket(s) at St. Nicholas Faire
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

The rain’s stopped, the game’s over – so here’s where to go: Now until 4 pm at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW), it’s the one-of-a-kind St. Nicholas Faire. This combination holiday shopping event/fundraiser features dozens of custom-made gift baskets with themes – cooking, sports, gardening, toys, picnic gear, barbecue accessories, much more – and gift certificates/cards for local businesses.

Art too:

You bid for them, silent-auction-style, while also enjoying sips (wine tasting!) and snacks. There’s a small admission charge, raising money for the West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank (which also benefit from the overall proceeds); a longtime supporter of both, the church’s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall, is emceeing:

Bring a nonperishable food donation too.

P.S. If you’re driving, there’s a big parking lot behind the church, at 44th/Dakota.

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FOLLOWUP: Student’s ‘Bringing Warmth’ donation drive – extended!
December 15, 2019 12:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

Good news if you don’t make it to Good Day Donuts (9823 15th SW) by 1 pm for Chief Sealth IHS senior Emily Un‘s “Bringing Warmth” caat/blanket collection – the folks at the shop say they’ll keep a bin throughout the holidays so you can drop off a donation some other day. GDD is open 7 am-2 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 am-2 pm Saturdays, 9 am-1 pm Sundays.

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DAKOTA HOMESTEAD: Community campaign to buy ex-substation rekindling
December 13, 2019 2:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)

We haven’t heard much about the Dakota Homestead campaign, raising money to buy the ex-substation at 50th/Dakota (across from Genesee Hill Elementary), but it’s still alive, supporters say, and they’re inviting you to an informational event next week. It’s been three and a half years since the campaign launched; along the way, organizers have amassed some donations as well as grant money, but they have further to go to achieve their dream of buying the site to turn it into a neighborhood preserve and gathering space, a hub for urban gardening and environmental education. Board members of the Urban Homestead Foundation will host an informal meeting and Q&A session 6-7 pm Wednesday (December 18th) at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW. Board member Rich Sheibley tells WSB, “We are also using this time to ask for volunteers to help us on this project, and provide an overview of where we plan to go from here.”

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WEEKEND PREVIEW: St. Nicholas Faire’s big change
December 13, 2019 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND PREVIEW: St. Nicholas Faire’s big change
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2018 St. Nicholas Faire)

One of this weekend’s big events is the St. Nicholas Faire, a one-of-a-kind holiday shopping event and nonprofit benefit, with one major change this year: It’s happening on Sunday afternoon instead of evening. The Faire is at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, just north of The Junction at 4105 California SW, 1-4 pm Sunday (December 15th). Its central event is a silent auction of a huge variety of custom-made gift baskets with themes including:

Children’s Books
Air Fryer
Children’s Science Gear
Beer & Wine
Gardening
Baked Goods
Seahawks Gear
Olive Oil/Vinegar
Framed Photos
Kitchen Gadgets
Tools
U of W Gear
Holiday Items
Barware
Baking Tools
Storage Containers
Art Supplies
Tea & Coffee Items

Also gift certificates/cards for local businesses. The St. Nicholas Faire has a small admission fee that benefits local nonprofits, and it’s less if you bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. P.S. If you’ll be driving to get there, the church has a big parking lot in back.

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‘BRINGING WARMTH’: Chief Sealth student collecting coats, blankets Sunday
December 12, 2019 9:58 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

That’s Chief Sealth International High SchooL senior Emily Un, and Good Day Donuts in White Center is where she’ll be 10 am-1 pm Sunday (December 15th) awaiting your donation of coat(s) and/or blanket(s).

During the month of November when I was busy with college apps, I needed a break from just constantly focusing on school work. Ever since I was a young kid, I always wanted to help them homeless in any type of way.

I thought about the things I could do. My friend told me that he saw a homeless man and felt bad for him because it is freezing in Seattle, especially at night. So, this led me to wanting to do a clothing drive. I am in contact with homeless shelters like YWCA and DESC. All of the clothes/blankets will be going back to them, and maybe a few other shelters, depending on how much gets donated.

She chose White Center as the site for the drive because that’s where she lives, but lots of West Seattleites visit there too, so we’re sharing the word here as well as on our WC site. Good Day Donuts is at 9823 15th SW.

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YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Helpline’s ‘urgent need’
December 11, 2019 3:28 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The best way to end homelessness is to prevent it from happening. One of the agencies devoted to doing that in our area is the West Seattle Helpline. They’ve asked us to let you know they’re seeking help with what they describe as an “urgent need”:

Requests for emergency financial assistance are at an all-time high, up roughly 30% compared to this time last year — that’s an extra 32 families who need help each month. For the first time in four years, we may not be able to support all of our neighbors seeking assistance. We need YOU now more than ever to ensure we can continue to help ALL our neighbors. This season we ask that you join us in stretching yourself to help stop homelessness before it starts.

The assistance provided by the Helpline covers one-time needs, preventing eviction and/or utility shutoffs. These are not giant grants – an average of $281 can keep a family from losing their home, the Helpline says. If you can help with any amount, donate online, or send a check to West Seattle Helpline, 6516 35th Ave SW #204, Seattle, WA 98126.

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HAPPENING NOW: Giving coats, getting cocoa/coffee @ West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays donation drive
December 8, 2019 11:23 am
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: Giving coats, getting cocoa/coffee @ West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays donation drive
 |   How to help | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

That’s the booth to look for at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, where the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive is headquartered. Generous folks had already filled the bin just half an hour into it – when we stopped by, the bin had been emptied once, and more donations had started to fill it again:

Bring gently used coat(s), scarves, and other keeping-warm clothing items before 2 pm – you’re helping the West Seattle Helpline and the neighbors it assists! You’ll be offered a hearty thanks as well as cocoa or coffee.

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HOLIDAY HELP: Giving Tree for teens
December 6, 2019 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on HOLIDAY HELP: Giving Tree for teens
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Just added to the “Giving Opportunities” section in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

holidaypresent.jpgJohn L Scott Westwood has teamed up with the Southwest Boys and Girls Club of King County to ensure 100 in need teenagers will have a Happy Holiday.

Join John L Scott Westwood in helping make the holiday season brighter for this often forgotten age group. Visit John L Scott Westwood (2600 SW Barton St., Suite A6), between NOW and December 18. Take a wish from a needy teenager and deliver your unwrapped gift back to John L Scott Westwood, no later than Wednesday, December 19.

Our teenagers have dreamed big; however, we ask that you keep your gift to $40-$75.

The John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor) office is in the Westwood Village breezeway, across from 24 Hour Fitness.

P.S. Got a “giving tree” or other community-giving drive too? Send us the info so we can include it in the Holiday Guide!

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