A packed Alki Arts on Aug. 19 gathered to raise funds through the West Seattle Helpline for Pencil Me In For Kids - a non-profit that provides funding for West Seattle students' school supplies.
Enough goodwill to stock a Costco could be found inside the far cozier quarters of Alki Arts on Aug. 19 as a good crowd gathered to raise funds for West Seattle Helpline, a non-profit organization that provides “information, referrals and limited financial assistance through programs geared toward supporting the working poor.”
Helpline’s Executive Director Tara Byrne said all proceeds from the event were headed to Pencil Me In For Kids (another West Seattle non-profit headed by the Rotary Club), ensuring students have the money for basic supplies for the upcoming school year. Byrne said students from 11 different West Seattle schools will benefit from the event.
Alki Arts at 2820 Alki Ave S.W. was temporarily transformed into museum mode as Helpline presented a “Gallery of West Seattle History,” including archival photos and information provided by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s Log House Museum.
The Helpline also presented a historical tour of their 22 year history of helping West Seattle families (including several Herald articles covering their cause over the years).
Ron Marshall, an original founder of WS Helpline in 1989, championed the cause from the sidewalk, encouraging the hoards of pedestrians (it was a very pleasant evening on Alki) to purchase a $30 ticket and stop in for wine and food donated by local restaurants, many along Alki Ave, and enjoy the music of Sue Quigley. Quigley donated her talents to the cause.
Many who didn’t have time to peruse the gallery simply donated money as they walked by.
Tara Byrne said she just became the executive director of the West Seattle Helpline on June 1st. Having worked for non-profits for a long time, she said it was ideal to bring her skills to an organization focused on the community where she came from.
“I grew up in West Seattle and then my family moved away for a short time, and then my whole family moved back to West Seattle because of that sense of community we have here … we just love the area and I thought for me (the Helpline) was a really good connection because our mission is all geared towards West Seattle residents, especially families that have emergency service needs.”
“We really believe in the cause,” Alki Arts co-founder Diane Venti (alongside Tom Wyrick) said. “I grew up in this neighborhood and we all need help sometimes, everybody does. We all take a turn, so to me the Helpline is all about a pool of resources to match with our communal pool of needs.”
For more information on how to donate or volunteer for the West Seattle Helpline, please visit their website here.