You can help! WestSide Baby’s benefit tea is one week away
(Photo courtesy WestSide Baby)
WestSide Baby‘s biggest fundraiser of the year is one week from tomorrow – its 14th annual Benefit Tea, on Sunday, March 1st, 2-4:30 pm in the conference center at the Hilton by Sea-Tac Airport. You still have time to get ticket(s) online and help support WS Baby in its ever-expanding mission of helping local children – $40/individual, $300/table of 10, $600/VIP table of 10 with extras. From the organization’s update:
The 2015 Tea centers on need in our community that is often kept hidden from sight, and understanding how together we can help children grow up safe and healthy. Raising Change President and CEO Kathy LeMay will highlight the afternoon with a keynote address focusing on the role of compassion in philanthropy. LeMay’s work has taken her around the world, fighting for human rights and social justice.
The Tea offers guests an opportunity to give and many opportunities to walk away with gift packages, including roundtrip airfare for two on Alaska Airlines. WestSide Baby will also sell hand-crafted glass “BabyCakes,” created by Avalon Glassworks, with one hiding a $1,000 diamond and white gold pendant compliments of Wyatt’s Jewelers.
As WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland points out, “Across King County, poverty is growing and most of us do not realize the challenges families face right in our own neighborhoods. Families don’t always advertise when they are struggling and need help. The infant behind you may be sitting in a wet diaper and living out of a car with her parents, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. These are our neighbors, and by getting these children the essentials they deserve, they will grow up safe, warm and dry, and their parents won’t be forced to choose between buying diapers and paying rent.”
P.S. Here’s our coverage of last year’s WS Baby Benefit Tea.
You can help! Pathfinder K-8’s 21st annual auction in 4 weeks
4 weeks to go until Pathfinder K-8‘s big annual auction fundraiser, and tickets are still available, as are donation opportunities. Here’s the update we were asked to share:
Calling all Pathfinder families and alumni! Pathfinder K-8 will be celebrating our 21th Annual Auction, “Starry Night,” on Saturday, March 21 (5:00 pm) at The Hall at Fauntleroy. All money raised will go directly to the unique programs at Pathfinder that support our expeditionary learning, like our Earth Project, tutoring, camping trips and environmental education. Pathfinder educates students to become passionate, lifelong learners, respecting themselves, others and the environment.
We have received several generous donations from West Seattle businesses and Pathfinder supporters. Our students and families are also creating original works of art and gift baskets for our auction. Donations are being accepted until March 2. It will definitely be an exciting evening of giving and community building.
Tickets are on sale at: http://pathfinderk8ptsa.org/auction/ which is also where you’ll find contact information if you would like to donate something.
2 big reasons to celebrate at West Seattle/Fauntleroy Y gathering
(Photo courtesy West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA)
Tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) annual-campaign kickoff featured more than 150 volunteers and staff gathered with two reasons to celebrate, per the Y’s announcement:
First reason to celebrate was the start of the 2015 Annual Campaign — goal $400,000 with $75,000 raised to date. Every year for the Y’s Annual Campaign, scores of community volunteers reach out to their friends to get kids what they need at the YMCA. These funds help youth whose families cannot afford YMCA before and after school programs in 7 local schools, YMCA childcare at two locations, youth sports programs, swimming lessons or summer day camp.
The second reason to celebrate was reaching the $3 million mark toward a $5.5 million goal to expand the West Seattle YMCA. The total project cost is $11 million, half to be provided by the YMCA of Greater Seattle and half raised locally.
“This project is designed to meet the needs of our changing West Seattle community,” according to Josh Sutton, YMCA Regional Executive. “We have made sure that the people who will benefit from this expansion project have a voice in its evolution. “ Sutton added, “While we still have some fund-raising benchmarks to reach, we are on track to be awarded our building permit in late spring. This will help us start construction this summer. “
The Y will be open during construction, which will take about a year and be accomplished in phases. Capital Campaign Co-Chair, J. Dino Vasquez is pleased with the progress, “We are honored that so many people in our community see the need for a larger YMCA and want to help. Many donors are making the largest gifts of their lives, and stretching their pledges over five years.”
The Y’s expansion was officially announced five months ago. Meantime, you can help local youth through the Y’s current programs by contributing to the just-launched annual campaign here (you’ll need to designate the West Seattle/Fauntleroy Y as the beneficiary).
See the M’s, support the Wildcats: Baseball-ticket fundraiser!
(WSHS baseball team at Safeco Field in 2013; photo by Greg Slader)
Here’s a chance to see the Mariners this year while giving a boost to local high-school athletes! From Caryn Johnson:
The West Seattle Boosters are supporting a fundraising event for the West Seattle High School baseball team. The team is selling tickets for $12/each to an upcoming Seattle Mariners baseball game (Mon, June 22 vs. the Kansas City Royals at 7:10) to raise money for the team as well as to qualify to play at the annual High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field in the spring of 2016.
If you would like to support the West Seattle High School Baseball team please e-mail wshsmarinerstickets@gmail.com. Someone will be in contact with you on how to purchase tickets. The fundraiser is due to end at the end of April, so purchase your tickets now. Last year the team was able to sell enough tickets during the same fundraiser to qualify to play at Safeco Field this spring. West Seattle High School will be playing Sedro Woolley on Saturday, March 28th at 12:30. Admission to this event is FREE!
We look forward to a great season this spring and will keep everyone posted on game dates, times and locations. Thank you for your support. Go, Wildcats!
You’ll never be younger than you are right this moment. Here’s one way to honor that.
“You’re not getting older, you’re getting better.”* If you’re old enough to remember that slogan, you’re old enough to have a stake in this (although ultimately, we all do): A chance to offer your opinions on what it will take for Seattle and King County to be “more elder-friendly.” Here’s how, as explained by Seattle/King County’s Aging & Disability Services (ADS) agency:
Every four years, ADS develops a comprehensive plan that charts the course they will take in creating an elder-friendly community. The agency looks at local demographics, trends, and major service gaps, and seeks public input, before setting measureable goals and funding priorities for the following four years. ADS has created a survey that will help shape the plan for 2016-2019. You are invited to take the survey (here).
Community forums are planned, too, in case you’d rather share your thoughts in person. Find lots more information here.
Help teach about the beach! Be a volunteer naturalist this year
(Photo by Greg, Constellation Park, 2012
Love to tide-walk? Do it as a volunteer beach naturalist this year! Here’s the official call for volunteers:
Volunteer with the Seattle Aquarium at a beach near you!
Why do barnacles stand on their heads? What do sea stars like to eat? How do moon snails lay their eggs? Learn to answer these and other fun questions by volunteering as a Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist this summer. Naturalists receive training in the spring, and then spend three low tide days educating beach visitors about inter-tidal life and beach etiquette at one of eleven Puget Sound beaches, including Constellation Park and Lincoln Beach in West Seattle. Training begins on March 10.
If interested, please email beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org, call (206) 386-4365 or visit www.seattleaquarium.org/beach-naturalist.
You can help! Be on the Alki Community Center Advisory Council
What happens at your local community center(s) – a long list of activities, classes, and events, featured in the seasonal brochure – isn’t just the work of the city staffers who work there. A community-based advisory council is hard at work behind the scenes, too. The Alki Community Center Advisory Council is inviting new members, and center coordinator Marc Hoffman asked us to share the invitation for you to “support the community center staff’s efforts to meet our recreational needs – use your talents to better our community!” The council usually meets at the center on second Wednesdays. If you’re interested, contact Marc at 206-684-7430 or marc.hoffman@seattle.gov, and/or council president Roberta Fowler, r2fowler@yahoo.com.
Here’s one way Seattle DID beat New England, thanks to you
If you haven’t entirely cheered up postgame yet – here’s some consolation, from Betsy at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor):
Here’s the outcome from Tibbetts UMC in the United in Blue food drive challenge – Seattle versus New England. The Tibbetts grand total was 1215 food items (money donated counts as 1 food item per dollar). Deliveries were made Monday to the West Seattle and White Center food banks.
The counts from other churches in Seattle – and really all across Washington – are continuing to come in but total over 43,000 food items right now and we’re so far ahead of the New England counts that Seattle has been declared the winner this year.
Big thanks to the WS Blog for publishing info about the United in Blue food drive Challenge and to those who were able to donate in person or on line. We may not have won the game Sunday but we’ll be making a difference in the lives of the people of our communities. Way to go, United in Blue!
Be a hero! Run/walk in the White Center 5K to help 3 nonprofits
(2014 WC5K photo by Patrick Sand)
Run or walk five kilometers to help three local nonprofits! Signups are under way for this year’s White Center 5K. From the official announcement:
The White Center Community Development Association (CDA) is partnering with the YES Foundation of White Center and the White Center Food Bank to host the third annual White Center 5K Walk & Run. This community event will take place on March 28, 2014, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at White Center Heights Park. Like the previous year, this will be another Superhero Run and all participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroes.
The 5K has an official start time of 9:00 am, with registration beginning at 8:00 am. Following the completion of the race there will be an award ceremony to recognize the fastest runners in each age group. The cost of participation is $25 for people aged 11 through 18, $30 for people between the ages of 11 and 54, $25 for those aged 55 and up, and free for children 10 years of age and younger. All proceeds from the event will benefit the White Center CDA, the YES Foundation of White Center, and the White Center Food Bank.
Sign up now – just go here.
You can help! Volunteer as a Girls on the Run coach this spring
(Photo courtesy Girls on the Run)
So sunny and warm today that we’ve seen people out running, walking, bicycling everywhere around West Seattle. Great time to think about community involvement like this: Girls on the Run is recruiting coaches for spring 2015, and needs volunteers for the program at three West Seattle schools: WS Elementary, Alki Elementary, and Westside School (WSB sponsor). Here’s the announcement:
Girls on the Run of Puget Sound is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Empower 3rd-5th grade girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, recognize their gifts, and activate their power to make healthy choices for years to come!
As a coach, you’ll work with 1-2 other coaches to guide a group of girls through an established, easy-to-follow curriculum that uses running games to teach healthy living lessons that develop the whole girl – her social, emotional and physical self. Together, you will explore issues like media awareness, nutrition, emotional health, positive communication, and community service. Help empower the next generation of women by volunteering to coach this spring! For more information, please visit http://girlsrun.org/get-involved/coach/ or contact Jen John, Program Manager, at jen@girlsrun.org or 206-528-2118.
Early registration begins for 2015 West Seattle 5K Run/Walk
(2013 photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
The signs of spring are starting to show up – like this one: If you know you’re going to participate in the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk this year, there’s an incentive to early registration, as announced by race director Jeff Mensing:
Early Registration is open for the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk. Join us with your friends and family on May 17th at beautiful Alki Beach for the 7th annual West Seattle 5K Run/Walk! This community event is a fund raiser for West Seattle High School. The first 100 registrations are automatically entered in a drawing to win a new pair of running shoes from West Seattle Runner. Help support West Seattle students and take advantage of early registration discount fees.
You can register online at westseattle5k.com.
Super Bowl challenge where everybody wins: Seattle vs. New England food drive! Tibbetts UMC is in – are you?
(Photo courtesy Tibbetts UMC)
With a week and a half until the Super Bowl, Seattle vs. New England team-spirit contests abound. Here’s one you can join while not only showing your love for the Seahawks, but also your love for your down-and-out neighbors. From Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), here’s how you can get involved in a Seattle vs. New England food drive!
Since the Seahawks are repeating a trip to the Super Bowl, the Seattle-area United Methodist Churches are repeating a challenge to a food drive contest – this year to New England. Tibbetts UMC is a drop-off site and food will go to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks.
Whoever has the highest number of donations of dry goods or money at midnight on Super Bowl Sunday will be declared the winner. In this contest, EVERYONE wins, since our spirited competition supports local people in need. All food & money will be donated to local food banks. For details on how/where to donate, go here.
You can also donate online at unitedinblue.org (where you’ll also find out about participating churches in other areas). Once again we expect that many churches in Washington will participate since our Seahawks have such a huge fan base! Monetary donations made online will count towards the contest, with donations going to Northwest Harvest. We’ll beat New England in football AND in generosity!
P.S. Food items that are needed most: Whole-grain cereal; fruit in water or juice; meat (canned in water when possible); vegetables, low or no sodium; beans (dry or canned); 100% fruit juice; powdered or shelf-stable milk; pasta sauce; peanut butter; soup; canned meals; Mac & Cheese & other boxed meals; whole-wheat pasta, rice, or other whole grains.
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW.
Also tonight: Benefit for Jasmin; opening night at ArtsWest
The trajectory of today’s coverage kept us from our usual preview of various events, so as we arrive at mid-afternoon, here are two more to mention, both happening in The Junction:
BENEFIT FOR JASMIN: In November and December, we mentioned benefits for Jasmin Egan, who grew up in West Seattle and is fighting leukemia. Friends at Brunette Mix (longtime WSB sponsor) in The Junction are organizing another benefit tonight, 5-8 pm, just around the corner at Lika Love Fashion Boutique (4447 California SW) – a sip-and-shop event, with a percentage of tonight’s sales proceeds going to help Jasmin and her family with mounting medical bills. You can even stop in while on your way to …
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘4000 MILES’: Be among the first to see the new production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), the Northwest premiere of “4000 Miles“:
(ArtsWest photo by Michael Brunk; cast, L-R, Adria LaMorticella, Adam Standley, Susan Corzatte, Sara Porkalob)
Amy Herzog was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for writing “4000 Miles,” a dramatic comedy telling the story of a 91-year-old grandmother and her 21-year-old grandson, and who really needs who and why. ArtsWest’s artistic director Mathew Wright directs. Curtain time tonight is 7:30 pm; tickets are available online here. “4000 Miles” will run through February 15th.
Have books to donate? West Seattle Food Bank needs more!
The latest reminder that the West Seattle Food Bank provides recycled books to its clients – and needs your donations to keep the books flowing!
The West Seattle Food Bank’s Bookcase Program was so successful with our clients during the holidays that we have run out of many books, especially children’s books. Young children enjoy the picture books while waiting with their parents in our lobby and are excited about being able to take them home. Cookbooks, history books and Adult fiction and non-fiction are extremely popular with our adult clients. Our Bookcase Program distributed more than 5,500 recycled books last year donated by local book stores and individuals in our community. Donations are accepted during our office hours of Monday – Friday 9 am – 3 pm. The West Seattle Food Bank is located at 3419 SW Morgan St. at the corner of 35th & Morgan.
‘Take a step. Make a difference. Help us help others’: Straight Blast Gym’s food-drive challenge for you
(Some of last year’s Straight Blast Gym food-drive donations)
North Delridge’s Straight Blast Gym of Seattle (WSB sponsor) isn’t just aiming to strengthen bodies. It’s aiming to strengthen community. And the latest way it’s working to do that, with your help, is via monthlong food drive. From SBG’s Sonia Sillan:
We are currently running a food drive throughout the month of January for the West Seattle Food Bank. Every ten items (ramen not included) earns one raffle ticket; at the end of the month we’ll hold a drawing for different prizes like an Xbox One, gift cards, etc. When discussing how to help others and the purpose of the food drive, one of my five-year-old students said “Well, when you help others it shows that you love them, even if they’re strangers. They don’t have the things that we have. That’s why we should always help everyone and love everyone” (clearly awesome parents!).
My focus with the drive this year is to really pull the community together. Everyone at SBG is excited to see what we can raise within our gym community, and outside of it as well. I really challenge people who don’t know us to stop by and drop some nonperishables off. Take a step. Make a difference. Help us help others. Last year, we raised 1700 pounds of food. This year, our goal is to raise at least 3000.
This quotation by Ralph Waldo Emerson really resonates with me: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
You can help Straight Blast Gym meet and pass that ton-and-a-half goal by dropping off food at the gym, 5050 Delridge Way SW.
2 weeks to go! Chef-tastic lineup for ‘Gifts From the Earth’ at SSC
(Photo courtesy South Seattle College: SkyCity Executive Chef Jeff Maxfield, SSC culinary alum)
Two weeks from tonight, 15 accomplished Seattle chefs will cook dinner for 300 people supporting the South Seattle College Foundation during “Gifts From the Earth.” Go here to see the full lineup and read their stories – award winners, entrepreneurs, hotel chefs, restaurant chefs, club chefs, SSC-alum chefs. Then make your reservation to support student scholarships and services via tickets to the event, 5 pm Saturday, January 24th, at Brockey Center on campus. The night includes silent and live auctions. And yes, there will be wine! Your tickets await, here.
West Seattle holiday-giving postscript: What you gave to Helpline via Dave Newman’s office & other participating businesses
(Car full of donations, unloaded upon delivery to Helpline)
Throughout the just-wrapped-up holiday season, countless West Seattle businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals gave generously to local nonprofits, in so many ways. Today, before the holidays are too far back in the rear-view mirror, we have a wrap-up of one drive that lasted beyond Christmas, all the way through New Year’s Eve, headquartered at the office of State Farm agent Dave Newman (WSB sponsor), who writes:
The annual coat and cold weather clothing collection for the West Seattle Helpline was a great success!
Special thanks to local businesses such as Berkshire Hathaway, Mirsepasy Law Office, Chelan Café, Alki Key and Lock, Wiseman’s Appliance, Admiral Starbucks, Swedish Automotive, Foreign Car Workshop, Auto Buff, and Les Schwab. With their help, and the help of other local supporters, we collected seven large barrels of cold-weather clothing for our less-fortunate friends and neighbors. A heartfelt thanks to fellow citizens who made it possible by their generosity and giving nature.
Let’s all hope for a pleasant 2015.
So what happens to all that clothing?
That photo is courtesy of WS Helpline, whose Anna Fern notes that the WSH clothing bank Clothesline “is open three days this week with 25 families scheduled to come to ‘shop’ for free clothing and coats! Over the last two months (November and December) we have given away over 162 coats! Clients have been very grateful! One commented, ‘What a great gift – the gift of warmth and comfort’.”
P.S. You can help Helpline any time of year, with clothing or money.
Got surplus shoes? Get them over to the EQ Fitness donation drive!
Maybe someone gave you new athletic shoes as a holiday gift. Maybe you’re getting ready to treat yourself to a new pair. Whatever the circumstances, if you have athletic shoes you don’t need any more, 
take them to West Seattle’s EQ Fitness (WSB sponsor) so they’ll make it onto the feet of homeless people who need durable footwear to get through the winter, and beyond. This is the second annual shoe drive at EQ Fitness, and it’s lasting all month long. If you need an extra reason to stop by EQ (3270 California SW), set your calendar for 1-3 pm Saturday, January 24th, an open house with food, drinks, and demos of TRX, aerial yoga, and the new “booty barre.” Plus, a convenient time to donate shoes!
From West Seattle to Kurdistan: John Murphy’s work with Yezidi refugees fleeing ISIL
(John Murphy with Yezidi children; photo used with permission)
A West Seattle man is starting the New Year thousands of miles from home, working to help refugees who fled northern Iraq for Kurdistan. John Murphy is a Highland Park resident who, among other things, founded and leads The Cabiri. Right now, he is working to help Yezidi refugees, members of an ethnic minority forced from their homes by ISIL, which has targeted them with genocidal violence (here are reports from U.S. media and the BBC).
While nonprofit non-government organizations (NGOs) are helping some of the Yezidi refugees, others have taken shelter with relatives and sympathizers in towns around the region, and they are who Murphy is helping. We learned of his work via West Seattleite Lola Peters, who forwarded a message from Murphy that explains, “I’ve known Yezidi for two decades and have an ability to work within their culture. … The NGOs, although doing their best, they have lost people in the cracks. I am working with a private Yezidi collective to find needs, fulfill them, and mitigate hardships in the areas that have gotten (missed).”
Murphy has set up an emergency fund for the Yezidi refugees via this GoFundMe page, where you can read a short summary of his project. He also writes about it in-depth today at SeattleStar.net, noting, “Regardless of the largest refugee exodus since the Armenian genocide, few know exactly what is happening,” and concluding, “We in the West made this mess; let’s clean it up.” (While researching this, we happened onto a mention that U.S. military operations related to ISIL have cost $1 billion so far.)
Happening now: Drop off your Christmas tree with Rainbow Girls
Sure, you have multiple ways to recycle your Christmas tree. But the Rainbow Girls‘ annual benefit has a few one-of-a-kind aspects, including: Nonprofit fundraiser; only place in West Seattle to drop off your tree (if you don’t want it sitting out on the curb until your next pickup day); no need to cut the tree into pieces (but no flocking or tinsel, please). Just take your tree to the Alki Masonic Center parking lot in The Junction (40th/Edmunds, newly repaved and regraded) until 3 pm today; they’re accepting cash donations for the service. They’re also selling handmade Seahawks-theme scarves, we noted while there to photograph (above, L-R) Destiney, Darian, and Zoë.
Haircut fundraisers start tomorrow at Delridge Community Center
Just announced by Delridge Community Center – happening every Saturday this month:
Airstream Pop-Up Haircut Salon
Look good and feel good about doing it. (Suggested haircut payment/donation will go toward Delridge Community Center )
Delridge Community Center has been serving the surrounding community for over 20 years. And we want to continue doing more! We offer from Ballet and Zumba, to one of only 3 centers who offer showers to the homeless for $3.00. We have a RECTECH computer lab to help you apply for jobs or finish a school or work project. A fun and safe place for your teens, and licensed school-age child care, and a preschool Program.
During the Month of January, in partnership with Rudy’s Barbershop, we will be offering free haircuts to the community. Come and get a haircut by one of Rudy’s Barbershop’s professional hair stylists. Look good and feel good; proceeds will go toward the Delridge Community Center’s Teen programs and scholarships for before- and after-school programs, and much more. Airstream Pop Up parked behind Delridge Community Center, close to soccer fields.
Dates for the Airstream pop-up:
* January 3 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 10 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 17th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 24th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 31 (8:30 to 3:30)
DCC is at 4501 Delridge Way SW, south of SW Genesee. (Rudy’s, by the way, is likely to open its non-pop-up West Seattle Triangle location this year, as reported here last summer.)
| Comments Off on You can help! WestSide Baby’s benefit tea is one week away