A community-led Mutual Aid Drive organized by Burien resident Kelsey Vanhee this week delivered gift bags, food, clothing and essential supplies to shelters, pantries and unsheltered residents across the region during this holiday season.
Vanhee said the 2025 Mutual Aid Drive exceeded expectations, finishing assembly and delivery several hours ahead of schedule and distributing donations to multiple local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
“I was stunned at how many of you donated funds, supplies, cookies, your time, and your moral support,” Vanhee wrote in a message to the community thanking participants for their support.
According to Vanhee, volunteers assembled and delivered 95 gift bags to DESC Bloomside, one for each resident. Each bag included a variety of six to eight cookies, instant coffee, hot cocoa or cider, personal care items including handmade peppermint soap, knit hats, cozy socks, gift cards to local grocery stores, restaurants or bookstores, and a box of handcrafted holiday cards with stamps so residents could send greetings of their own.
In addition, nine gift bags with gift cards were delivered to Hospitality House, with more gift bags and cookies planned for delivery to the Highline United Methodist Church Day Center. A bulk donation of toilet paper was delivered to Bloomside ahead of the event, and additional supplies were contributed by Alimentando al Pueblo.
The drive also distributed 3,000 diapers from Westside Baby and other donors. The diapers were divided among the Burien Community Fridge and Pantry, the South Park Sharing Shed, and free little pantries in Rainier Beach and White Center. Volunteers also stocked the Burien Community Fridge with nonperishable food, cookies and menstrual hygiene supplies.
Vanhee said warm socks, hand warmers, emergency blankets and body wipes were collected for the Wednesday Night Supper Club to distribute to people currently living unsheltered in Burien. Organizers also responded to walk in requests from community members, providing warming kits, diapers, cookies and coats to those in immediate need.
For transparency, Vanhee said $1,650 in financial contributions were used to purchase gift cards, with additional gift cards donated directly by community members. Remaining gift cards and supplies will be donated to a holiday drive supporting residents at Stevens Place, a new Downtown Emergency Service Center housing facility in Seattle.
Vanhee said staff with DESC told her it was clear that “so much love was poured into the gifts” and that they were excited to distribute them.
“I organized this event because I think community support is even more important than the gifts themselves and I want our friends and neighbors at Bloomside to feel the love and support of our community,” Vanhee wrote. “I also hope that those of us who want to see a kinder and more connected Burien feel less alone.”
Vanhee said the need for mutual aid is ongoing and encouraged residents interested in year round efforts to get involved. She noted that the Burien Community Pantry and Fridge, located at 11860 12th Ave. South (map below), operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes donations.
“You have made this holiday season warmer for so many,” Vanhee wrote. “None of us could have done this alone.”
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Yeah Baby. There be Humans here :):)
DESC makes well over 100+million a year……….. …………
Not discrediting the morals behind gift giving – thats excellent to see and Im active in it!
But dont you think other non profit shelters that arnt involved in Seattle/King county’s ring may need more funded gifts rather than the richest homeless organization in this state?
All that money and they can’t even talk or influence any residents to pick up the trash strewn around the building, I want DESC to have some accountability and it’s supporters to do more than gift bags.
These donations weren’t directly to DESC as an organization, they were gifts for residents. Also, just because people helped put together gift bags for residents at this event doesn’t mean those same people aren’t giving to other organizations as well.
I truly cannot understand why you would deny these residents a gift bag at the holiday season simply because they live in a DESC facility. Have some perspective and decency.