West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
Imagine buying one-of-a-kind holiday gift baskets for family and friends and knowing the entire purchase price would benefit local nonprofits. That’s what’s at the heart of the annual St. Nicholas Faire, happening right now at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) just north of The Junction. The baskets are assembled and donated by church members, each with a theme:
We noticed baskets with Seahawks or Mariners gear, books, toys, cooking, gardening, beer, the list goes on. You can either bid on them or get them for the “guaranteed” price. Your host is FLCWS pastor Rev. Ron Marshall:
Wine-tasting and homemade baked goods are also available during the St. Nicholas Faire, on until 7 pm – as noted in our daily preview for today, there’s a suggested donation for admission, lower if you bring a donated item for the West Seattle Food Bank, which benefits from everything at the Faire along with the West Seattle Helpline. The church is at 4105 California SW; enter off California, just south of the sanctuary door.
P.S. This has been spotlighted in our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, still full of fun, giving, and informational listings for the rest of the holiday season (and if we’re missing something, let us know!)
If you have a coat you don’t need … or if you can afford to buy one to donate … a coat drive is on right now for students at Interagency Academy, a network of small alternative public high schools in Seattle, with two West Seattle businesses as the dropoff points. Interagency’s assistant principal Melissa Rysemus, a West Seattle resident, explains:
Are you looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in our city this winter? Consider donating a new or gently used warm coat for a student at Interagency Academy! Interagency is a public alternative high school serving students from all neighborhoods in Seattle. Over 30% of the students enrolled at Interagency are homeless, some are young parents, and most live in poverty.
All sizes are welcome, especially adult sizes from small to XXXL as students can be up to age 21. Hats, scarves, gloves and other warm clothes are also welcome. Some of the students have kids or siblings they take care of, so small kids sizes are needed too.
And West Seattleite Stephanie Gerding adds:
Some of these students live in tents and attendance at schools serving disadvantaged children is down right now —it is simply too cold to make their way to school! Many of these kids don’t have the clothing to stay warm in these cold days. Some teachers are literally giving the coat off their own back when they see these students in need of a little warmth. … There are lots of West Seattle kids that attend this school.
Husky Deli in The Junction (4721 California SW) is a dropoff spot, open Sundays 10-7, Mondays-Saturdays 9-9. Also, Lika Love in north Morgan Junction (6031 California SW) is accepting donations too (and giving $10 off purchases today if you bring something in to donate – open until 5 pm).
P.S. We’re adding this to the “Giving Opportunities” section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
One more reminder with the biggest holiday breakfast event of the season just hours away – the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will be serving you a pancake breakfast 7 am-11 am at the Masonic Center in The Junction. Looks like you can still save $2 by buying advance tickets online – the link is on this page – $8 advance, $10 at the door on Saturday morning. Kids under 10 eat for free if they’re with a paying adult, and they get free photos with Santa Claus. This is the 68th year the Kiwanis Club is presenting this benefit breakfast; if you can, bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. It’s bound to be festive and a great way to start a great holiday Saturday in The Junction (looking ahead to the 5 pm tree lighting). The Masonic Center is at 40th SW & SW Edmunds.
Start your Saturday with a neighborhood good deed. Admiral Neighborhood Association president David Whiting says the quarterly Adopt-a-Street is on:
This Saturday, December 5th, is our final Adopt-A-Street cleanup for the year. I’ve heard back from the manager of Metropolitan Market and they will be ready for us with coffee and snacks at 9:00 am in front of the store. We should be done by 12:00 noon.
If you’ve never participated before, ANA provides gloves, safety vests, bags and long-handled tools to grab litter. All you need to do is show up and sign up. We divide up into small groups and cover the streets around the junction. In case you need to ensure you’ll be on Santa’s “nice list,” volunteering this Saturday is a timely opportunity to make a good impression.
The market’s on SW Admiral Way between 41st SW and 42nd SW.
Going to a home basketball game at West Seattle High School this week? Bring along warm clothing for homeless women and their kids. Donna from the West Seattle Booster Club shares word of the donation drive:
The West Seattle High School women’s and men’s basketball teams are hosting a warm clothing drive to benefit the YWCA homeless shelter.
This shelter helps homeless women and their children who range in age from 1 to 12 years old.We are asking for new or gently used hats, scarves and gloves. Other items that would be helpful are 2016 calendars so they can keep track of their appointments, as well as bus tokens and diapers in any size.
We will be collecting these items at the door of this week’s home basketball (tonight and Friday). Please come support West Seattle basketball as well as the women and children of the YWCA.
Tonight, the WSHS boys’ varsity team plays Kennedy Catholic HS at 7 pm; Friday (December 4th), the opponent is Roosevelt, girls’ varsity at 6:30 pm, boys’ varsity at 8 pm, all at the WSHS Gym (3000 California SW).
The West Seattle Food Bank does a lot more than collect and distribute food.
Are you doing some pre-holiday cleaning in your children’s book shelves? The West Seattle Food Bank’s Bookcase Program is in need of all kinds of gently used children’s books, especially for ages 5 years old and younger. Our Bookcase Program is growing tremendously, having distributed more than 14,000 adult and children books through generous donations from individuals and business in our community. Our clients are very appreciative of the program, where they can take home up to 10 books to keep. With the holidays here, you can imagine the demand we are feeling in the children’s book area. Donation hours are Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm and we are located at 3419 SW Morgan St. on the corner of 35th & Morgan. Enter through our garage on Morgan and come in through the double doors. Our volunteers will be glad to help you with your donation. Thank you so much.
(SYSO photo)
Students at seven local public schools get the priceless gift of coaching from professional musicians via the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras‘ Southwest Seattle Strings Project. If needed, the students can borrow instruments for free from Seattle Public Schools. But the ability to assist stops there, which means it stops short of providing badly needed supplies such as replacement strings, chin rests, shoulder rests, rosin, and method books. So a modest donation drive is under way right now – explained in this clip:
SYSO hopes to put together a supply basket worth more than $1,000, with the assistance of the discount at Hammond-Ashley (mentioned in the video), for each of the seven local schools with which it partners – Arbor Heights, Concord, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo, and West Seattle elementaries, and Denny International Middle School. You can help build the baskets by chipping in a bit here.
Just found out about this – Joey went through his Arbor Heights neighborhood with flyers and is now awaiting (whether you got a flyer or not) donation dropoffs for the West Seattle Food Bank. His family sent the photo and explains, “Joey will be out until 5 pm loading up the truck. He delivered over 70 flyers and is anxiously awaiting for food dropoff in the cold! Stop by and say hi and drop off your donation! 9910 34th Ave SW.”
Just back from The Junction, where this was all happening at California/Alaska at noontime:
With the United Nations climate-change conference about to start in Paris, West Seattleites rallied in “encouragement” of climate action:
This was one of many rallies, small and large, planned for today.
Also on the southwest corner of the Walk-All-Ways intersection today: Wreath sellers from Pathfinder K-8. The school community makes and sells wreaths every year to raise money for environmental education and will be in The Junction every Sunday during the holiday season:
Just across the intersection, at the south end of the official Farmers’ Market zone, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle was bubbling with enthusiasm about its annual Pancake Breakfast next Saturday.
Everyone’s invited to the Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) 7 am-11 am on Saturday (December 5th) – if you don’t have tickets yet, buy yours for a discount online right now – $8 online, $10 at the door.
Meet another of your neighbors who’s doing what she can to help people in need. Stephanie Endres created Stephanie’s Lifeline, and organized this afternoon’s Backpacks Bring HOPE event, filling 100 backpacks with basics – first-aid kits, toiletries, some food and beverages. We visited her HQ on Pigeon Point to see the results:
Next step, delivering to the recipients. The slogan on Stephanie’s website: “It’s better to do something small than do nothing at all.” Here’s how to get involved.
Maybe you already have some of these items and can donate … or maybe you’ll consider buying something while out shopping. Nicole Sipila from the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA sends word of what the school’s Clothing Closet needs:
Chief Sealth International High School is thankful for the generosity of our community to keep our Clothing Closet stocked with clothing, school supplies and toiletries for our homeless students and other students in need.
We currently need these items:
*College-ruled composition books
*Graph paper composition books (5×5 quadrille preferred)
*Gloves & mittens
*Cold-weather scarves
*Men’s athletic and sweat pants — all sizes and gently used is great
*Men’s dress socks
*Men’s new or gently used blazers and suit jackets — all sizes but especially smaller sizesDonations can be left at the front office. 2600 SW Thistle St
That’s during school days/hours – but if you want to find out about other ways of getting your donated items there, contact Lisa – lisalconley@hotmail.com.
Though a few places in West Seattle had trees before Thanksgiving, today is the traditional start of Christmas tree season, and so it was opening day for the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (rejoining the WSB sponsor team for the occasion). It’s just north of the school, with entrances off 42nd or 41st north of Genesee.
Tree types include Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Frasier Fir, Grand Fir, and Norway Spruce (:15 guide in our Instagram clip), with prices starting at $25. Again this year, part of the proceeds go to local charities. Other greenery available, including wreaths.
The hours are on the official HR Tree Lot website; it’s staffed by cheery volunteers, including Geraldine, who showed us the lot’s official Christmas tree costume:
The lot will be open through December 13th, 9 am-9 pm weekends, 2-8 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 2-9 pm Fridays. If you’re not ready to buy a tree yet, just remember that whenever you are, this lot and others we’ve spotted around West Seattle are listed in the WSB Holiday Guide.
Chalk signs pointed the way when we stopped by to see how the pre-Thanksgiving “Lunches With Love” volunteers were doing this afternoon in South Park. Steps from that sign, a garage was already filling with an estimated 400 sack lunches:
Upstairs, in organizer Lashanna Williams‘s sun-splashed kitchen, the all-ages volunteer crew continued making sandwiches and filling bags to deliver around the Sound tonight:
This is the third year for this day and night of pre-holiday giving:
You can still help – lunch-making was scheduled to continue until 6 pm, and then delivery starts around 9 – see our preview for location and other info.
Just a few minutes of your time can help student researchers. Last year, you answered the Gator-bots’ call; here’s what they’re up to this time:
We are the Gator-bots, a Lego Robotics team from Holy Rosary in West Seattle. Last year the West Seattle Community was extremely helpful as we researched ways to share new Technology. This led the team to come up with a creative way to share information. We used this research as part of a project that was then presented at a competition in December.
This year our challenge is to do research on TRASH! Our project focus is to choose a piece of trash and identify a problem with the way it is currently handled. We are looking for problems with the way we make, transport, store, or turn trash into something new. Then find out what is being done to solve the problem.
West Seattle is a very progressive community so we are looking for something new. As a team we discussed opportunities we each have and decided that Food Scrap management may be an opportunity. We found out that New York City developed a profitable project to reduce food scraps that were dumped into the garbage and turn that into a profit by selling it as compost. This required a lot of community work and awareness.
Our Survey is developed to find out more about our community and get some thoughts from all of you.
Thank you in advance,
The Gator-bots
One more day to make sure hundreds of local families can celebrate the holiday with a traditional meal … First, the White Center Food Bank needs more turkeys, and you can bring them by 8:30 am-7 pm on Wednesday. If you can spare some time, they also need help distributing food Wednesday afternoon/evening:
Volunteers needed Wednesday, 4:30-8 pm. It’s holiday distribution time again at the White Center Food Bank and we are currently short volunteers for the afternoon/evening of November 25 to pass out food to clients. We get set up at 4:30 pm. We distribute food from 5:00 to 7:30 pm and then clean up. Families welcome. If you can help, please call Audrey at 206-762-2848 or e-mail audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org
WCFB is at 10829 8th SW.
(2014 ‘Lunches With Love’ photos courtesy of Lashanna Williams)
If you can spare some time and/or food and/or other items … here is your next big chance to give before Thanksgiving. It’s the third year of the grass-roots Lunches With Love project. Its leader Lashanna Williams has this invitation explaining several ways to help:
Hello my sweet Seattleites,
It’s time for Lunches with Love again. Last year we were able to feed many people around the sound and we plan on doing the same this year.
So far we have had donations from Stoneway Construction, The Cuddle Club, and Lafarge-Holcim’s Sales and Concrete Lab.
Volunteers spend the Wednesday before thanksgiving (11.25.15) making paper sack lunches and assembling care packs.
In the evening volunteers take lunches around town to those who need it. (Pike Market park, near the bus stop, outside of shelters, under I-5, alley stoops, along West Marginal … just in human hands)
If you, your officemates, your book club, etc., want to make some sack lunches or drop off lunch supplies – that would also be amazing.
This year our goal is 1,100 lives touched.
Pre-made lunches and supplies can be dropped off to my house – 9319 7th Ave S. – until about 6 pm Wednesday night.
Lunch hints: nothing that needs to be heated. (Sandwich, fruit, veggies, cheese, protein bar, sweet treat..etc)
Living Supplies: Clothes, gloves, blankets, tarps, tents, toothbrushes, reusable water bottles, garbage bags, batteries, flashlights, etc.
If you are interested in making lunches please feel free to come by any time from 11:30 am – 6 pm (Wednesday) and we’ll head out around the sound around 7 pm.
Questions? Email me or call me! Thank you so much for reading and participating if you can.
Lashanna :)
(your Summer Fest and Hometown Holidays face painter)lashannaw@gmail.com or call 206.715.5265
If you don’t know them already, above are Fran Yeatts and Rick Jump, executive directors of the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, photographed at last night’s WS Chamber of Commerce “After Hours” event at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village. We’ve checked with both organizations about Thanksgiving turkey needs and here’s where they stand:
WSFB – OK on turkeys thanks to some unexpected deliveries/donations – but they will of course welcome any that you can drop off at their HQ (SE corner of 35th and Morgan, donations through the garage entrance off Morgan) 9 am-3 pm weekdays. This weekend, you can also donate nonperishable food via the food drives at the Junction True Value (4747 44th SW; WSB sponsor) open house on Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, and the Beer Church Turkey Bowl at WS Bowl (39th/Oregon) on Saturday night, 6:30-8:30 pm.
WCFB – Bring turkeys!!!! As mentioned previously, special turkey drive at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) this Sunday, 10 am-noon – look for the truck outside – or at their HQ (10829 8th SW) 9 am- 5 pm weekdays.
Both also can always use cash donations, as in many cases – though NOT the case with turkeys! – they have special agreements and can make donated dollars go further. For WSFB – donate online here; for WCFB (which serves WS south of SW Myrtle) – donate online here.
(Photo from last holiday season: Car full of donations, unloaded upon delivery to WS Helpline)
That photo shows some of what West Seattleites donated to the West Seattle Helpline last holiday season to help keep neighbors warm, in large part thanks to a donation drive at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance (WSB sponsor). We’ve just received word that they’re doing it again: You can drop off donations of clean clothes, coats, and shoes at Dave Newman’s office (3435 California SW) from now until the end of December. If you want to donate, but can’t get the item(s) to the donation location, pickup might be available – call 206-932-1878 to inquire.
P.S. We’ve just added this to the newly launched WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which, along with all kinds of other holiday information, includes a specific list of donation drives and other opportunities to give – some, like this one, all season long, others just for a specific day or event. Something to add? E-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
Can you help? The program is based in our area:
Volunteer Homework Tutors Needed!
Salvation Army – Hickman House is a transitional housing program for families who are homeless due to domestic violence. The volunteer tutor will help with the “Homework Club” which meets weekday afternoons for 1.5 hours. This program is for students in kindergarten through high school to complete homework assignments and strengthen reading and math skills. Tutors provide constructive feedback and encouragement, and inspire students to be life-long learners.
Schedule: We ask tutors to volunteer on a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoon or evening. We are looking for a commitment of at least 6 months.
Qualifications:
– Experience with youth as a teacher, tutor, babysitter, volunteer or family member
– Empathy, patience, a friendly demeanor, and good communication skills, especially active listening
– Eligible candidates will be over 18 years old and must pass a criminal background check and complete a child safety training
Contact: Leah, Children’s Program Coordinator: 206-932-5341 or leah.knopf@usw.salvationarmy.org
Until 7 pm, the West Seattle Food Bank would love to see you at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) at 41st SW and SW Alaska in The Junction, where they’re collecting donated frozen turkeys and cash/check donations ($15 will buy a turkey – prices are up this year). You probably recognize Blitz, the Seahawks’ mascot, in the photo – as noted in our previews, he was there for photo ops for the first hour (HomeStreet is the official bank of the Seahawks). If you can’t get to HomeStreet tonight, stay tuned for other WS Food Bank donation opportunities as Thanksgiving approaches – just two weeks from today.
Photographer Mark Wangerin has kindly shared dozens of West Seattle wildlife photos here again this year, often beautiful bird photos in which he invests an amazing amount of time and talent – you don’t just walk up to a spot in a park, see a bird on a branch, snap a photo, and walk away; sometimes it’s an hours-long stakeout. And again this year, he’s donated photos for the West Seattle Wildlife Calendar that’s being sold as a benefit for environmental programs at Chief Sealth International High School, where he taught for a decade. The printing run was expanded this year but the $14.99 calendars are still going fast; here’s how to get one, including a special event tonight:
*You can buy yours from Sealth students who will be at CAPERS in The Junction during tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm (4525 California SW).
*They’re also on sale while supplies last during regular business hours at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy, WSB sponsor); Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon, WSB sponsor); J.F. Henry (4445 California SW); and West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon).
*If you know a Sealth 9th grader, ask about a calendar. If not, e-mail nczeichner@seattleschools.org.
*Last but by no means least, a few remain available for online purchase at markhousepublishing.com.
West Seattle High School‘s PTSA is “Reaching for the Stars” with its annual fundraising auction in just 10 days – Friday, November 20th, at Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus – but they can’t get there without you. Nikki Page from the PTSA e-mailed to say they’re still selling tickets and you can get in at the discounted early rate, $50, if you buy yours by Friday: “Please come and support West Seattle High School!” is their message to you and the rest of the community; here’s where the money goes. You can get your ticket(s) online.
Just out of the WSB inbox:
The West Seattle Food Bank is in need of pet food and kitty litter donations. We are a critical resource to more than 9,300 individuals, many of which have pets. Last year we distributed just under 10,000 pounds of pet food through requests we receive from families in need of being able to take care of their furry. Thank you in advance. Our clients appreciate the kindness and support of their community. Our location is on the SE corner of 35th & Morgan, with our garage entrance off Morgan. Donation hours are Monday – Friday 9 am – 3 pm.
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