Local businesses, schools, groups and individuals from West Seattle all the way to Normandy Park are supporting WestSide Baby as we collect and redistribute baby gear, children's clothing up to size 12, toys, diapers and books to low-income families in South King County. This directly impacts how many car seats, portable cribs and diapers we can buy and consequently share with our most vulnerable citizens.

Last week, 136 students from Alki Elementary were lucky enough to be the first audience watching the world premiere of "Pinocchio" at West Seattle's own ArtsWest Playhouse. Alan Harrison, the executive director of ArtsWest, instructed the children before the play that it was okay to "laugh really hard" if they thought something was funny and laugh they did! Pinocchio, Geppetto and the Cricket walked deftly through the topics of truth-telling, generosity and the importance of school making it a perfect match for a group of students ages 5 to 11. Even the one preschooler in the audience was captivated by the many characters.

ArtsWest has partnered with WestSide Baby in making the entire production run of "Pinocchio" a Diaper Drive and also by hosting a benefit performance for WestSide Baby on Saturday June 2.

When the students heard they could receive a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream if they came again carrying a package of diapers, there was a collective gasp! Husky Deli helped with ice cream and Great Harvest is helping with breadsticks (aka Pinocchio noses) for the benefit. We thank local businesses Georgia Blu, West Seattle Kids Salon and Wyatt's Jewelers as ticket sale locations and to Square One Books for being that as well as for coming to us offering to support us with their pre-order of the new Harry Potter book.

Local donation drop off sites such as West Seattle Kids Salon, the Fauntleroy Church, Swedish Children's Clinic and B-Town Scoop in Burien are all crucial to getting what you have to give away into our facility in White Center so we can get it ready to pass along.

We learned this week of a Diaper Drive competition between Kennedy High School and Highline High School and one group of kindergartners at Alki Elementary are even learning about community outreach and stewardship by adopting WestSide Baby as the recipient of their toy and clothing drive this month at their school.

From the blanket making groups who supply us with quilts and receiving blankets to the tireless volunteers and board members who give of their time over and over again, WestSide Baby is so lucky to "live" here and to benefit from our amazing community support. West Seattle is a lot of amazing things and, to us, you are a group of businesses and individuals committed to keeping local children healthier and happier than they would otherwise be.

Thank you from WestSide Baby - keep it up!

Nancy Woodland

Executive Director

WestSide Baby

White Center