White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Just out of the WCN inbox:

WHITE CENTER SPRING CLEAN
Saturday, April 20 and Saturday, April 27

White Center needs Our Help!!

The White Center Community Development Association (CDA) is organizing its 21st annual Refresh/ Spring Clean. If you love White Center, then volunteer to help us clean it up. Volunteers who give three hours working to clean up White Center will get the latest version of the famous “I Love White Center” T-shirt.

Volunteers have two Saturdays to choose from; April 20 and April 27.

Saturday, April 20, 2024 (Meet at 9 am at 98th and 15th)

To honor our wonderful Cambodian/American neighbors, who will be celebrating the Cambodian New Year the next weekend (Saturday, April 27), on April 20 we will focus on covering graffiti and cleaning up the downtown area around SW 98th between 17th and 14th, where the Cambodian New Year celebration will be.

We need crews to help cover graffiti, touch up murals, paint the front of buildings, pick up trash, and clean the windows of local businesses. Our goal is to make the area beautiful again for the Cambodian New Year celebration that occurs the following weekend. We will provide paint, brushes, and equipment to sweep and clean windows.

We also need crews to go to the four “Welcome to White Center” signs that each say “Welcome” in 10 languages, to clean them up, add flowers and bark around each sign, paint the brick foundations and poles if needed, and rake the areas surrounding each sign. These signs are located at Roxbury/18th , Roxbury/10th, SW 108th/4th, and Delridge/18th. For these crews, bring brooms and gloves, we will provide flowers, bark, paint, sign cleaner, and bags for trash.

Saturday, April 27, 2024 (Meet at 9 am at the Saars Parking lot)

We will continue removing graffiti in areas around White Center and support Evergreen students to help us touch of their previous great art on the north side of Saars market and on both sides of SW 108th between 16th and 17th. We will also have crews walking throughout White Center covering graffiti and picking up trash. After our clean up effort, we can all go celebrate the Cambodian New Year!!

Sign up by email or text. Tell us your group size, and shirt sizes. We can make White Center beautiful again, if you help us.

Contact: markufkes@comcast.net, or Text to (206) 595-7124

Just announced by the White Center Food Bank, and you’re invited!

Join White Center Food Bank (WCFB) for an exciting Capital Campaign Fundraiser, with exclusive tours of our new facility prior to the event! This special celebration features delicious food from White Center restaurants, amazing speakers, great music, a silent auction and more. With just over 60% of our $8 million goal raised, we need our community of supporters to help us move to our new home.

Speakers include Senator Joe Nguyen, our Executive Director Carmen Smith, and a WCFB customer. The event will be MC’d by the inspiring community advocate and food bank partner, Kimnang Seng. Delightful music from master Brazilian singer, Adriana Giordano will create a celebratory ambiance for this special event. Each ticket includes appetizers provided by Sap Sap Lao Cafe and Patrick’s Cafe and Bakery, plus a drink ticket.
Tours of the new food bank from 2:30-4pm and the event is 4-6pm. Shuttles will be provided by KC Metro to and from the event space and the new food bank.

Date: Saturday, Oct 21
Time: 2:30-6pm (tours of new food bank from 2:30-4 pm, fundraising event from 4-6 pm)
Event Location: White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW
New Food Bank Location: 10016 16th Ave SW

This new facility will bring together an incredible array of community programing, hosted both by the food bank and partner organizations. WCFB wants people from all walks of life to enter through our doors together, so that everyone feels comfortable receiving food whenever they need it.

“We’re excited for this next chapter to better serve the community and revitalize this part of the neighborhood. We hope that our supporters will continue to show up alongside us to ensure our community thrives.”- Carmen Smith, Executive Director.
To purchase tickets and learn more, click here!

Thanks to Gill Loring for the photos! Last weekend, North Shorewood Park got some TLC from the WTA – Washington Trails Association.

Damp weather didn’t stop this determined crew.

Yearning for a chance to help? Several other natural areas and parks have volunteer opportunities on the next Duwamish Alive! day – October 21st.

Got plans Saturday night (September 23)? A quietly effective nonprofit helping countless area families invites you to a party that’s coming on the heels of a Family Fun Day last weekend. Here’s what it’s all about:

If you noticed an abundance of bubbles in the air last Saturday, that is because the UnPoppable Family FUNfest happened in White Center. Nestled in the community amphitheater courtyard between Educare Seattle and White Center Heights Elementary, children aged one month to 6 years were the focus of a joy- and music-filled gathering with activities, performances by the Highline Drill Team, a visit from a King County Fire District 2 engine and crew, and bubbles galore!

Educare Seattle hosts this event specifically for early learning families to acknowledge and celebrate the critical role the “whole family” has in child development.

Families joined from White Center Heights kindergarten classes, the White Center CDA’s Play and Learn groups, Heritage Head Start and Educare Seattle. Educare teachers and family advocates provided STEAM-based activities (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math), Verity Credit Union provided financial management information, and the White Center CDA engaged families in crafts.

“As 85% of brain development occurs in a child’s first 3 years and there are only about 2,000 days between birth and kindergarten, there really is no more important time for little ones to receive superb care,” shares Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of the Learning Communities Foundation for Educare. “Everyone benefits when children and families receive what they need, especially from teachers who look like them and honor many cultures. At Educare, an equitable approach with low teacher:child ratios, holistic support for families and research and data informing every step impacts each child now and beyond the walls of Educare when in kindergarten or when research .”
Today celebrated they children and families. This Saturday, the Learning Communities Foundation invites you to join them for UnPoppable FUNdraiser. Serving mocktails, cocktails, appetizers from Greenbridge Café, sorbet from Seattle Sorbet and treats from Puffy Pandy, there is something for everyone. (Adults only please)

UnPoppable FUNdraiser
Saturday September 23, 2023
6:30-8:30 pm
@ Educare Seattle 625 SW 100th St,
You can reserve your space HERE – Tickets are just $25
Volunteers needed too – please email nwoodland@learningcommunitiesfoundation.org or call (206) 716-8840

“We’ll transform our bright and airy building into a festive evening venue with music, lots of fun activities to bring child-like joy in an adult setting,” shares Woodland. Guests will find opportunities to give in a welcoming atmosphere, perfect for folks who are new to fundraising events or who wish to learn more about direct ways to address income inequality or invest in early learning.

About Educare Seattle: Educare Seattle is an early learning center in White Center offering Head Start preschool and childcare programs to area families. Income eligible (~less than $55,000 for a family of 3) families receive high quality, culturally relevant learning opportunities and care. First opened in 2010, Educare Seattle serves more than 140 children with a Whole Family approach that engages parents “as a child’s first and most important teacher.”

About Learning Communities Foundation: As the fund development partner of Educare Seattle and the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD), LCF raises funds for PSESD programs, like Educare, that strive to create a racially just and humanizing learning system from cradle to career.

If you’ve skated at Southgate Roller Rink, you might know manager Katie. She’s fighting cancer, and the rink is hosting a benefit 8:30-11 pm Thursday night (August 31st) to help her win that fight:

Let’s raise some money to help our good friend and manager Katie! This is a 21+ fundraising event. There will be A RAFFLE featuring donations by local businesses and artists! Music by DJ Josh and a special live music performance by MAN PLUS! The admission is $25 and free skate rental. 100% of the admission will go to Katie and will be matched by Southgate.

Katie has been taking care of everyone else and always puts their needs before herself. She will beat cancer and in the meantime let’s raise some money to cover her rent, living expenses, and medical bills!

If you are unable to attend, this is the link to the gofundme: gofundme.com/f/r9kgn-help-katie-beat-cancer

Early heads-up to save a few hours on your calendar for this:

Here’s the direct link for registration.

Businesses around the region have been finding ways to help the fire survivors in Maui. Thanks to Amy for the tip about another one: Patrick’s Café and Bakery in White Center will donate proceeds from shave-ice sales this Sunday (August 13th) to Maui relief. Founder Patrick Choy is from Hawai’i, and shave ice is a popular treat in the islands, so it’s the perfect benefit. Patrick’s is at 10003 15th SW; Sunday hours are 8 am to 3 pm.

(A version of this story was also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

It’s a street party in downtown White Center today, with 16th SW closed to vehicles between Roxbury and SW 100th for the Taste of White Center, benefiting the White Center Food Bank. 32 restaurants and bars are offering $5 “tastes” – some savory, some sweet, like the three cream puffs from Puffy Pandy:

Here’s how it works – find one of the WCFB booths along 16th, and buy $5 tickets, redeemable at the participants of your choice.

You’ll get the map/list with the locations/names of the participating restaurants and bars and what they’re offering. Some non-downtown WC businesses have set up booths on 16th so they can be part of it too, like Dubsea Coffee (strawberry lemonade):

The food spans a variety of cuisines – Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, Salvadorean, American, and vegetarian/vegan options – Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant‘s booth (fried rice, Singapore noodles, egg roll) among them:

Almost all the venues are offering their tastes until 4 pm. A few have later starts – Tomo, offering strawberry/basil kakigori for dessert, is listed as “1 pm until sold out.” Participating venues we haven’t already mentioned are: Taqueria la Fondita, Best Roasted Corn, Que Chévere, Salvadorean Bakery, Rosticeria el Paisaano, Los Potrillos 4, Taqueria la Quebrada, El Catrin, Li’l Woody’s, Proletariat Pizza, Zeeks Pizza, Pho Thu Thuy, Sap Sap Lao Café, Bok a Bok, The Roll Pod, Lumberyard, Lariat Bar, Tim’s Tavern, Moonshot Coffee, Future Primitive, Full Tilt, Patrick’s Café and Bakery, Nacho Mama, Young’s, Meat the Live Butcher, Can Bar, and Mac’s Triangle Pub. Wherever you get your food, tents are set up at multiple spots with tables and chairs. A DJ’s spinning, too.

One week from tomorrow, you’re invited to enjoy the Taste of White Center, benefiting the WC Food Bank. Here’s the announcement:

The White Center Food Bank is excited to bring together our neighborhood’s wide variety of restaurants for a family-friendly event and fundraiser. With 34 restaurants participating, attendees purchase $5 tickets to try a variety of foods like banh mi sandwiches, Colombian empanadas, Indian fry bread tacos, strawberry basil kakigori, and much more. Iconic restaurants like Tomo, Puffy Pandy, Salvadorean Bakery, El Catrín and others are ready to serve up amazing bites!

Each ticket is an opportunity to taste a small plate, drink or dessert from participating restaurants. All ticket proceeds support the White Center Food Bank, while sponsorship dollars go to the restaurants to purchase ingredients and pay for event costs.

Tickets will be available for purchase at three locations in downtown White Center in the area of (16th Ave SW, between Roxbury and 100th St). A ‘menu’ will be given to each attendee at the time of ticket purchase, with a map and details on restaurants and items available. This is a first come, first served event, with limited quantities available at each establishment. There will also be a raffle for 2 roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines.

White Center Food Bank looks forward to hosting this celebration and sharing the diverse culinary talents of our neighborhood around the one thing that always brings community together: FOOD!

(This story also appeared on partner site West Seattle Blog)

(Above, from left: Bahini Buvaneswaran, Liliana Gaxiola-Cuerpo, Elsa Benavides, Nancy Woodland, Shariffa Sabrie, Christina Monteith, Mai-Chi Kelly, Heidi Walker, Barbara Harris-Bojang)

A lot of clowning around Thursday at the Educare Early Learning Center in Greenbridge. They were participating in Red Nose Day, which raises awareness and money to help little kids. “A few years ago, my brother walked into a restaurant to meet me with a big red nose on his face. I burst out laughing and then went in for a hug,” recounts one of the participants, West Seattleite Nancy Woodland, executive director of Learning Communities Foundation. On behalf of Educare Seattle, she picks up the story from there:

The Red Noses are eye-catching, goofy and fun. For Educare Seattle, they are a connection point to joy and a meaningful way to illuminate the importance of early learning, especially for families facing poverty.

More than 110 children enter Educare Seattle each day to engage in learning through child-care and preschool programs designed to ensure the littlest among us have access to high quality learning with a “whole family” approach. Children are greeted by teachers who look like them, honor their stories and celebrate their traditions. Parents and caregivers are recognized as their children’s first and most important teachers and have access to family support services and leadership opportunities in equal proportion.

“Partnering with a parent for resume’ support, basic needs assistance like diapers or gas funds or to gather their input for a staff hire is an integral part of our program design. It’s not an add-on or an extra because nothing is more important than centering the child and recognizing that the grown-ups surrounding them, each of them, is a part of that child’s story,” says Mai-Chi Kelly, Family Advocate. “Here, parents have power and voice and always have.”

Programs like these benefit from Comic Relief’s annual Red Nose Day campaign, now in its ninth year, raising life-changing funds to help end the cycle of poverty and ensure children are safe, healthy, educated and empowered across the U.S. and around the world. The campaign’s iconic Red Noses, symbolizing hope and positive change, are on sale nationwide at longstanding Red Nose Day partner Walgreens.

Please consider stopping by Walgreens to pick up a Red Nose. Please donate directly to Comic Relief here, where funds will be collected nationally and distributed through partners or, as Educare Seattle’s story is being gathered to be shared over the coming year, invest in local early learners at Educare Seattle here.

(A grant from a previous Comic Relief Red Nose Day funded playground improvement at Educare Seattle so more STEM-based lessons can occur outside, rain or shine. The project was completed Thursday.)

Educare Seattle is an innovative early learning center in White Center. Families meeting “income and circumstance” criteria receive childcare and attend preschool in a setting built on four pillars that combine to lead to a racially just and humanizing learning system.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Educare building at 625 SW 100th holds Educare, Heritage Head Start and Seattle Preschool Programs. The White Center Community Development Association holds its Kaleidoscope Play and Learn programs there weekly.

Relaunching now that doors can be open again, staffing levels are starting to even out and new faces with big ideas are reconnecting to plan for the future.

Woodland adds, “Even with 13 years working at WestSide Baby, I didn’t realize there was a magical place several blocks away.” The WestSide Baby model focuses on provides basic needs for children without connecting 1:1 to the families and children. “Connecting with WestSide Baby’s new Executive Director, Michelle Hankinson, this week just drove home that White Center is home to incredible nonprofits and the pandemic sent many into crisis management mode. It’s time for us all to reconnect in service to children and families.”

Email her at nwoodland@learningcommunitiesfoundation.com if you’d like to learn more about board leadership opportunities, event support, sponsorship opportunities, or even just to see the program for yourself. She adds, “As I checked in with my brother about the Red Nose memory, he said ‘I noticed it because it was goofy but I bought it because I saw it was connected to something good. The fact that it made folks laugh was an added bonus.’”

The parent-support organization for CHOICE Academy, which is open to students from around the Highline district, is expressing appreciation for a donation from an area business, as well as continuing fundraising for an end-of-school-year initiative, and asked us to publish this:

CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization, an organization of parents fiscally sponsored by the Highline Schools Foundation, is partnering with Azteca Mexican Restaurants to donate T-shirts to students for Field Day, the last day of the school year.

Azteca Mexican Restaurants, with locations in Tukwila and Burien, has made a donation in support of the purchase, with both locations’ separate ownerships showing support for the school’s initiative.

CHOICE Academy is a small school with around 180 students for grades 6-12, which offers a smaller educational environment with more flexibility. It has won several awards for academic excellence and has stand-out test scores for the district. The CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization aims to provide some extras for the students and support the teachers and staff.

“The PSO fell into dormancy over the pandemic, but we’ve managed to get back up and running and the parents have come through on a number of occasions to help with events. It was quite a struggle to revive the organization, which is one reason why it’s so heartening to see community support like this,” said Beth Quittman, the President of CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization.

The PSO is selling Butter Braids, a frozen filled pastry, to raise the remaining funds needed for the project. Supporters who wish to take part in the fundraiser can do so online (here) and pick up their purchases on May 26 or donate their purchases to local homeless shelter Mary’s Place.

Azteca Mexican Restaurants, a locally owned business with its Burien headquarters building located right next to the school district headquarters, is happy to show their support for the school’s initiative. Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and Azteca Mexican Restaurants is the perfect place to celebrate while showing appreciation for their community spirit.

As mentioned briefly in our North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting coverage earlier this month: The Kiwanis Club of White Center invites you to its fundraising dinner 5-7 pm Friday, April 21, at the White Center Eagles:

This is our second time for a Steak/or Portobello Mushroom featured dinner with tickets at the door at $35, or $30 for each for pairs or multiples. Tickets in advance can be obtained from Bill Tracy 206-248-2441 or billnancytracy@aol.com, or Scott Davis at 206-246-3412 or shorewoodscott@comcast.net.

The Kiwanis also plan a pancake breakfast, same location, on October 7th.

So what does the club do? Bill Tracy, club secretary, explains:

We have been active in the area since 2001. Our goals are to assist the Youth of the North Highline-White Center area through support of specifically the White Center Food Bank, where we work with Evergreen and New Start students, as well as the SW Boys & Girls Club, where we have a CAB member; contributions to WestSide Baby; and especially our sponsorship of a Key Club at New Start HS and guidance with the Key Club at Evergreen HS.

We also offer Student Merit Awards to graduating Key Clubbers at both schools and assist in their attendance at the annual District Convention which covers all of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. We also honor Students of the Session, each Session, at New Start.

Although we are small, we have been active and are eager to add additional members. At present we meet at 7 pm in the WC Eagles on third Thursdays.

Sale season is starting – and you can help support programs at the White Center Library by shopping at this one next Friday and Sunday:

The library’s at 1409 SW 107th.

(Photo courtesy Southwest Boys & Girls Club)

If you have a bit of time to spare and a desire to get more involved in your community, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for!

The Southwest Boys & Girls Club is recruiting new members for the Club Advisory Board!

What does the Club Advisory Board do?

Board members are volunteers who support the Club and its hardworking team through community outreach, staff appreciation, support projects, and fundraising.

The board meets once a month, and additional involvement varies throughout the year.

Community volunteers are a vital part of the Club mission to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

To learn more, please email Jasmine Finkley at jfinkley@positiveplace.org

The Duwamish River is just down the hill – and here’s one day when four hours of your time goes a long way to helping it survive and thrive:

Duwamish Alive! Celebrating Earth Month
Sat. April 15 10:00 – 2:00 at Multiple Volunteer Sites: DuwamishAlive.org

Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative effort in improving the health of our river and its watershed. Starting at 10:00 am volunteers will be restoring native habitat in multiple urban parks and open spaces in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and the Puget Sound. Proving that many individuals working together can make a substantial difference in improving the health of our region.

Volunteers’ efforts include, a river cleanup by kayak, shoreline salmon habitat restoration, and native forest revitalization. To volunteer visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and register for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org

A multi-location food drive to benefit the White Center Food Bank has just days to go, and organizers at White Center Pride hope you’ll donate – or donate again! Here’s the reminder we received today, including the list of dropoff locations:

We are just a little over a week away from wrapping up our winter food drive for the White Center Food Bank. As of mid-February we had collected over 600 lbs. of shelf-stable food. We are hoping to push that number up to 1000 lbs by the time we finish the drive.

Here’s the direct link to the needs-list info mentioned at the bottom of the graphic.

Coming up next Saturday!

If the QR code doesn’t work for you, here’s a direct link for tickets.

Application time if you’re interested in involvement with the county’s “participatory budgeting” process!

After a successful first round last year, Local Services is again using this innovative approach to community-driven public funding in the county’s urban unincorporated areas.

Community members who live, work, go to school, or worship in the areas listed below are encouraged to apply to serve on the new steering committee, which will meet virtually to help guide the process of nominating and choosing projects for King County to carry out in each area. Applications are open through Tuesday, February 21.

Eligible areas: East Federal Way, East Renton, Fairwood, Skyway, White Center/North Highline

Find the application link on the right side of this page, where you’ll also find reports on the results from last year’s round.

Set your calendar for a night at Roxbury Lanes (2823 SW Roxbury) on Friday (January 20th) to help White Center Pride raise money for this year’s street festival:

White Center Pride Bowling Fundraiser with Adra Boo
Roxbury Lanes
Friday January 20, 2023
6:30 pm

Lace up your bowling shoes and show your pride Friday, January 20th at Roxbury Lanes in White Center! Join White Center Pride for a night of fun and fundraising hosted by singer extraordinaire, Adra Boo.

This special happy hour will have games and entertainment, a bowling fundraiser, and the opportunity to meet other members of the community. It is also a chance to show your support for the White Center Pride Street Festival as we work to raise funds for this wonderful event. All ages are welcome!

White Center Pride has announced June 3rd as the date for this year’s festival.

Looking for an easy way to expand your holiday giving? Here it is!