Friday morning the rain was back and greeted us in the morning as we pulled our weary bodies out of bed (well off the floor from our air mattresses) after a late night with UGM. Today we worked with WestSide Baby in White Center, just 10 minutes from church. WestSide Baby was founded in 2001 by a new mom who recognized the stresses of caring for an infant. WestSide Baby is the only social service agency in West King county area that collects, inspects and distributes free diapers, clothing, cribs and safety gear for babies and children. More than 120 local social service agencies, including shelters and food banks, rely upon us to provide critical necessities for low-income families. WestSide Baby distributed more than 1.2 million free diapers in 2015 along with 848 car seats, 316 cribs and clothing for infants and children up to size 12. The PVs have worked with WestSide Baby each of the four years of the Seattle PV Program. The first two years we helped to recycle car seats, last year we sorted clothes and unloaded a semi-truck of diapers. This year, we painted a new office space as well as helped to move the warehouse around so that they could get flooring put in the following day. We worked alongside the volunteer coordinator and the programs coordinator and learned so much about all that WestSide Baby does and how much it helps those in need in the community.
After we finished up at WestSide Baby we headed north for a Potluck with friends and family who are also supporters of the PVs. Before others arrived, we had our closing reflection service and then helped to finish setting things up. It was a nice evening where volunteers could talk about what they did during the week and the locals could share their own experiences. We ate good food, pickle-ball was played and as the evening drew cooler, we had a fire where people could warm up.
We had a great week and none of this would have been possible if we didn’t have a place to lay our heads at night. Thank you to Our Lady of Guadalupe in West Seattle for giving us such a comfortable home for the week. What an example of outreach you all are!