A Burien-based mutual aid effort will return next month with a community event to assemble holiday gift bags for residents of DESC Bloomside, according to organizer Kelsey Vanhee.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, from Noon to 5 p.m. in the Burien Library Multipurpose Room.
Vanhee said the gathering builds on last year’s volunteer project that created 100 cookie boxes for Bloomside residents.
She added that the goal this year is to honor the work of the late volunteer and 2023 “Citizen of the Year” Vicky Hartley by expanding the effort and offering more ways for community members to participate.
“I admit I had my doubts about pulling it off again without our beloved Vicky Hartley to lead us, but I know she’d want us to not only do it again but do it even better,” Vanhee said. “Vicky loved Bloomside and wanted residents there to feel truly welcome in Burien, so that’s what we’re going to do!”
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to help prepare end of year gift bags that include homemade cookies, small personal care items, comfort items such as gloves and fuzzy socks, and a $25 gift card to a local business or grocery store. She said the plan is to assemble a total of 100 bags to ensure every resident receives the same items.
In addition to the Bloomside gift bags, volunteers will prepare baby supply kits for the Burien Community Fridge, using diapers provided by Westside Baby. Vanhee said the event will also collect menstrual hygiene supplies and non-perishable food for the pantry.
A third project will prepare comfort oriented survival kits for neighbors experiencing homelessness, which will be distributed by the Wednesday Night Supper Club. Items include hand warmers, gloves, hats, ponchos, first aid supplies, cereal bars and electrolyte packets.
Sign Up to Help Here
Supplies can be dropped off between 11 a.m. and Noon on the day of the event. Vanhee said drivers will also be needed at 5:30 p.m. to help deliver the gift bags to Bloomside.
How Else To Help
Here are more ways to help, courtesy Vanhee:
- Gifts for Bloomside (bags of homemade cookies, small personal care items like soap, chapstick, lotion, comfort items like fuzzy socks, gloves, coffee, tea and cocoa, and a $25 gift card to a local business or grocery store) Needs:
- Cookies! Bake cookies at home and bring in a batch or two. Smaller cookies, a wide variety of flavors/dietary needs, and easy to bag (eg not too messy with icing) are preferred.
- Gift items: I don’t love Amazon but I’ve made an Amazon wish list to help us track the kind of bulk items we’ll need. Keep in mind we need to make each bag as equal as possible (but if you’re buying items for the bags don’t feel like you have to buy all 100 – the idea is a lot of people contributing what is manageable). The wishlist is set up with my address- you can ship items to my home or bring them on the day! (and please feel free to shop elsewhere) . Postage stamps (forever stamps preferred) to help folks send holiday cards to their family (and support the USPS!) I’ve also placed an order for handmade soap from a local soap maker.
- Gift Cards: I want to support local businesses AND help bloomside residents feel welcome to shop. We’re looking to get 100 $25 gift cards to local businesses or grocery stores. Please get them in exactly $25 amounts and please sign up with what you’re bringing (I’ll be using funds to buy the rest). Ideas for businesses to support: Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Burien Press, Three Trees Books, Page 2 Books, Frenzi, Goodwill, The Little Chicken Burger, Make me a Sandwich, Classic Eats – (This is not a complete list, and feel free to suggest your favorites, but try to aim for place where $25 will still be meaningful and ideally not too far from Bloomside.)
- Baby Kits for the Burien Community Fridge: we will be bagging diapers (generously provided by Westside Baby) and baby wipes to go in the community pantry for low-income parents. Menstrual hygiene supplies (especially maxi pads with wings) and non-perishable food will also go to the pantry.
- Survival kits for Wednesday Night Supper Club: Finally we’ll be gathering some comfort items (Hand warmers, gloves, hats, ponchos, first aid supplies, soft cereal bars, electrolyte packets, etc.) for neighbors currently experiencing homelessness to be distributed by the Wednesday Night Supper Club.
FAQ:
- I can’t come! How can I help? Send supplies from the Amazon list, or send funds (Venmo @kelsey-vanhee, email me for Paypal/other payment options) I’ll share the total raised and what it goes to at the end- but all funds will go to supplies for this drive.
- Can I bring my friend? YES! This event is open to the public and free for anyone to join. Please forward this email, share the event on Facebook, the graphic (attached) on your social media, or the signup sheet with anyone you know who might want to help.
- I am boycotting Amazon- can I buy supplies elsewhere? YES! Please do! Just let me know what you’re buying so we can plan accordingly!
- Do I have to stay the whole time? NO! If you plan to drop off supplies please aim to do so between 11-12, but if you plan to help pack kits you can drop in and out any time between 12-5pm. Delivery to bloomside will be at 5:30 and we’d be super grateful for vehicles to help with that!
- I have a business and I’d like to donate supplies or gift cards: YES! Thank you! Please email me!
- I want to donate but you seem sketchy, are there nonprofits I can donate to instead? YES! Mutual Aid is about solidarity outside of the traditional charity network. But we have some great local nonprofits and if you’d rather make a tax-deductible gift please feel free to support DESC, Seattle Community Fridge, Alimentando al Pueblo, Westside Baby, or The Wednesday Night Supper Club with a cash donation and support their important ongoing work instead. Any funds you Venmo me are not tax deductible but they will be used for this drive.
- Can I bring my kids to the event? YES! These activities should all be kid-friendly (and if they get really bored with us, there is always the rest of the Library!) We cannot supervise children for you, please ensure a parent is present the whole time.
- I have a mutual aid/nonprofit that would like to distribute baby kits Please email me! We will likely have more kits than we can handle so I will plan to take some to the South Park Sharing Shed as well as the Burien Community Fridge but if your organization would also like to distribute, please let me know and we may be able to arrange that!
For more information, email Vanhee at kelseymvanhee@gmail.com.
This is a very nice once a year holiday event to do for the DESC and from your letter to the editor and the signers on that letter you should have plenty of volunteers willing to help. Good Cheers!
https://b-townblog.com/letter-to-the-editor-desc-bloomside-is-a-welcome-part-of-our-community/
Well I’m all for helping out! But when it comes to donations I have to know I can trust the people and I’ve have been a huge advocate for donating my entire life. Here’s a handful of other awesome organizations. God bless everyone and happy holidays!
some other great organizations needing donations:
Highline Area Food Bank
Praisealujah
Transform Burien
Hope Christian Church
Marys Place
I agree with you on the other organizations to donate to and I guess I should had put “sarcasm” at the end of my comment. But again with all the signers on the letter I attached they should have more than plenty for their request.