From the category archives:

Volunteering

Neighbors Fed Up With Street Crime Planning March, Rally

January 31, 2012

in 911,Volunteering

OTHELLO – This week, in response to an increase in violent crime throughout the Rainier Valley, a local neighborhood group is planning a march and rally at Othello Station.

“The violence in our neighborhood continues,” wrote Nhan Thai in an email to the community. “From street robberies with guns to home invasions while people are at home.”

This month, two people have been killed and at least two others seriously injured in numerous unrelated shootings. There have also been stabbings, carjackings, armed robberies, assaults and home invasions.

The New Holly Pedestrian Safety Team is organizing the event this Fri., Feb. 3, starting at the New Holly Gathering Hall (7054 32nd Ave. S.) at 6 pm.

The event is planned for about an hour and will end at Othello Station.

“We are inviting other neighborhoods and organizations to join us in our effort,” said Thai. “No one person, group of neighbors, or organization can do this alone. This is the time to re-energize to make our streets safe for our families and neighbors.”

{ 15 comments }

Community Group Combats Crime With Neighborhood Safety Walks

January 17, 2012

in 911,Volunteering

RAINIER VALLEY – A local community group is working to take back Southeast Seattle streets after an increase in violent street robberies throughout the Rainier Valley light rail corridor.

The Southeast Seattle Crime Prevention Council (SSCPC) – in cooperation with the Seattle Police Department’s South Precinct – has already held two safety walks at area hot spots.

SPD has reported that each of the four Rainier Valley stations – Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach – are attracting robbers who target victims that are distracted by phones or iPods.

“We are looking for community members who will volunteer to walk in groups for several blocks in each direction from the stations, looking for areas where safety improvements can be made,” said SSCPC President Pat Murakami. “Bring a flashlight, note pad and pen for taking notes about areas needing improvement.”

The next safety walk is planned for the Mt. Baker Station Area on Sun., Jan. 22, at 7:30 pm. The group will meet in the southeast corner of the QFC/RiteAid parking lot.

The following day, Mon., Jan. 23, at 7:30 pm, a safety walk is scheduled for the Rainier Beach Station Area. The group will meet in the parking lot at Quality Rentals.

Photo/Rainier Valley Post

{ 3 comments }

Got Something to Say? Say It at Your RVP

January 11, 2012

in Volunteering

The Rainier Valley Post is a volunteer-run, neighborhood-based forum that thrives on contributions from its readers and other members of the south-end community.

We invite and encourage participation in the form of letters to the editor, guest columns, op-ed articles, photos, event notices and more.

  • Letters to the Editor: Send your letter to the editor on any topic of interest to the Rainier Valley community. 250-word limit. Examples.
  • Guest Columns & OP-ED Articles: Op-ed articles are an opportunity to express an informed opinion — your organization’s opinion, perhaps — on a newsworthy topic currently in the news about which you may be considered an authority — crime, neighborhood planning, development, education, politics, etc. 500-word limit. Examples.
  • Photos: Send up to 10 photos of your community project, party or event. Examples.
  • Event Notices: Send up to 50 words, including date, time, brief description and a link or email to follow for more info. Examples.

Deadline is generally two-weeks prior to desired publication. Send questions and submissions here. We look forward to hearing from you!

{ 0 comments }

Got Something to Say? Say It at Your RVP

December 26, 2011

in Volunteering

The Rainier Valley Post is a volunteer-run, neighborhood-based forum that thrives on contributions from its readers and other members of the south-end community.

We invite and encourage participation in the form of letters to the editor, guest columns, op-ed articles, photos, event notices and more.

  • Letters to the Editor: Send your letter to the editor on any topic of interest to the Rainier Valley community. 250-word limit. Examples.
  • Guest Columns & OP-ED Articles: Op-ed articles are an opportunity to express an informed opinion — your organization’s opinion, perhaps — on a newsworthy topic currently in the news about which you may be considered an authority — crime, neighborhood planning, development, education, politics, etc. 500-word limit. Examples.
  • Photos: Send up to 10 photos of your community project, party or event. Examples.
  • Event Notices: Send up to 50 words, including date, time, brief description and a link or email to follow for more info. Examples.

Deadline is generally two-weeks prior to desired publication. Send questions and submissions here. We look forward to hearing from you!

{ 3 comments }

Community Group Planning Safety Walks at Light Rail Stations

December 17, 2011

in 911,Transportation,Volunteering

RAINIER VALLEY – In light of the recent increase in violent street robberies throughout the Rainier Valley light rail corridor, a local community group is planning a series of safety walks at area hot spots.

The Southeast Seattle Crime Prevention Council (SSCPC) says it is planning walks – in cooperation with the Seattle Police Department’s South Precinct – at each of the four Rainier Valley light rail stations.

“We are looking for community members who will volunteer to walk in groups for several blocks in each direction from the stations, looking for areas where safety improvements can be made,” said SSCPC President Pat Murakami. “Bring a flashlight, note pad and pen for taking notes about areas needing improvement.”

Last month, a woman was robbed of her cell phone while sitting on a train at Columbia City station. There were no arrests in the Nov. 16th incident.

SPD has reported that each of the four Rainier Valley stations – Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach – are “hotspots” where robbers are targeting victims who are distracted by phones or iPods.

The first walk is planned for Sun., Dec. 18, at 7 pm at Othello Station. The group will meet in the parking lot of Holly Park Community Church (4308 S. Othello St.).

The second walk is planned for Mon., Dec. 19, at 7 pm at Columbia City Station. The group will meet behind the Boys and Girls Club (4520 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.)

Safety walks at the Mt. Baker and Rainier Beach stations will take place in early January.

{ 2 comments }

Help Fight Hunger at Two Rainier Valley Safeway Stores

December 6, 2011

in Business,Volunteering

RAINIER VALLEY – This month, Southeast Seattle Safeway shoppers can help feed hungry neighbors by participating in the Every Bag Counts food drive at the Rainier Beach and Mt. Baker stores.

From now through December 24, Safeway customers can buy a $10 pre-packed bag of food to donate to those struggling with hunger in their neighborhood.

“The need for food has been steadily on the rise since the start of the recession,” said Northwest Harvest spokesperson Claire Acey. “Statewide, we have seen about a 35% increase in need.”

She added that all food contributed as a result of the drive will benefit the Rainier Valley Food Bank and St. Vincent de Paul in nearby Georgetown.

Participating Safeway stores:

  • 3820 Rainier Ave S. (Mt. Baker)
  • 9262 Rainier Ave S. (Rainier Beach)

Photo/Northwest Harvest

Community Coming Together Around String of Attacks

December 4, 2011

in 911,Volunteering

By KOMO Staff (RVP news partner)

It’s been a week since a popular hair stylist died from a brutal beating in the Rainer Valley area.

As we first reported, police are investigating at least nine similar robberies, many involving the theft of electronics like phones. On Sunday, almost 100 people met to talk about how to stop this string of attacks.

For all the people who showed up to a South Seattle church Sunday evening, much of the side talk focused on three people who weren’t there.

Seattle Police are still looking for three teens they say could hold clues in the murder of Danny Vega. The 58-year-old man was robbed and beaten, his cell phone taken, back in November.

Since then community members have held several vigils and meetings including the one on Sunday.

Connie Burk is one of the organizers of Sunday’s community meeting, a potluck designed to bring the community together for a short meal and longer lasting peace.

While police look for the three persons of interest in the Vega case, she hopes to find an understanding within the community.

“Our emphasis is on, really, what each of us can do as community members to reach out to our neighbors, reach out to one another,” said Burk.

Nathan Shara helped plan Sunday’s meeting, too.

“A good friend of mine was assaulted about five weeks ago and since then we’ve all been, sort of, more concerned,” said Shara.

He told us he feels safe here, but only because he and his friends have set-up systems to protect each other:

“We have little buddy system set-up where if one of us is going to be out late or just going out to walk the dogs, now it’s ‘hey I made it home’ and we’ve had a chance to talk through what we would do if someone didn’t follow-up,” he said.

Shara shared some of those ideas on Sunday and that was the point – working together to help stop the violence, breaking bread to break the chain of attacks, and hopefully solve an unsolved murder.

Police are still taking tips regarding Vega’s attack. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers. Tips can remain anonymous.

{ 1 comment }

New P-Patch Coming to Othello Area

November 27, 2011

in Arts/Living,Urban Farmer,Volunteering

NEW HOLLY – There’s  a new community garden sprouting up in the Othello neighborhood of Southeast Seattle.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, in partnership with community volunteers, is developing a new P-Patch in the north end of John C. Little Park.

Neighbors are invited to learn more at a community meeting on Wed., Dec. 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hope Place, Room #206-207, (3802 S. Othello St.).

The project is funded through the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy, which dedicated $2 million to P-Patch Community Garden development.

Photo/Rainier Valley Post

Rainier Valley Food Bank Needs Your Help Feeding Hungry Neighbors

November 17, 2011

in Volunteering

GENESEE – It may come as a surprise that the tiny little Rainier Valley Food Bank (RVFB) serves almost 11,000 residents in Southeast Seattle each month. On any given Wednesday or Saturday you’ll see a line wrapping around the small façade of the food bank near the corner of Genesee and Rainier Avenue.

“We realize how fortunate we are to be located in such a caring community, it’s just unfortunate that so many families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet,” explains Kanchana Seneviratne, Community Engagement Coordinator for RVFB.

According to a new survey taken by the United Way of King County, donations to local food banks are down and the demand for food at these food banks are up.

“For every dollar we receive, we can distribute $12 worth of food, so you can see we are as resourceful as resourceful gets,” said Sam Osborne, Executive Director of RVFB. “Your support is always deeply appreciated, and always put to immediate good use.”

Along with regular food distributions, RVFB offers many opportunities for community involvement. Neighbors are also encouraged to donate food at neighborhood food drives, volunteer and of course donate much need funds through the food bank’s website at www.rvfb.org. Volunteer opportunities include distributing food on Wednesday and Saturday mornings or lending a hand to help plan and execute one of many special events. To learn more about how you could volunteer or host a food drive, call or e-mail Kanchana Seneviratne at 206 723 4105 or kanchana@rvfb.org.

Rainier Valley Food Bank has become one of the four busiest food banks in Seattle over the past two years, serving nearly 110,000 people in 2010 alone. Photo/David Mullarkey Images

Seattle Audubon Seeks Volunteers for Environmental Education Program

October 7, 2011

in Education,Volunteering,Youth

Seattle Audubon’s Finding Urban Nature (FUN) program needs volunteers to help at Graham Hill Elementary School in Seward Park.

The free program is an environmental education program for 3rd and 4th graders that introduces students to the natural world in their own schoolyard habitats through observation, discovery and scientific inquiry.

Volunteers are trained and then work with small groups of four to five students for four, one-hour lessons, over the course of four weeks.

“Seattle Audubon has been able to provide this high-quality program, including small group instruction, for more than seven years, because of volunteers,” said Volunteer Coordinator Marieke Stientjes Rack. “FUN students spend over eight hours getting to know their schoolyard habitat and, on average, showed a 13% increase in environmental science knowledge for the 2010-2011 school year.”

Go here for more information or to volunteer.

Seattle Audubon also provides FUN Explorers at Graham Hill, where 5th grade students learn about birds, the connection between birds and native plant habitats, and do habitat restoration at a local park. Photo/Seattle Audubon

Rainier Valley Food Bank Looking for a Few Good People

September 13, 2011

in Volunteering

The Rainier Valley Food Bank (RVFB) is looking for volunteers to help serve 11,000 hungry people each month.

The tiny organization – the only food bank left in southeast Seatle – has just three employees, and depends on a cadre of committed, long-term community volunteers who contribute more than 2,000 hours of service every month.

“We thought we were done breaking service records,” said Executive Director Sam Osborne. “But our numbers just keep growing.”

The organization saw a staggering increase in demand starting in 2009, with 65% more people needing help putting food on the table. The following year, demand continued to rise with 2010 being the busiest year ever in the organization’s 20-year history. This year is proving no different, as March of 2011 was the busiest month on record.

RVFB provides food assistance to low-income residents in southeast Seattle, with a focus on seniors, families, individuals with disabilities and the homeless. No one is turned away who meets the food bank’s broad criteria for assistance.

The food bank is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 am to 2 pm, and job duties include stocking shelves, general clean up and helping clients.

For more information or to volunteer, please call 206-723-4105.

Tagged as: ,

{ 4 comments }

GIVE: Volunteer at Next Columbia City BeatWalk

July 21, 2011

in Volunteering

Looking to get involved? Our Give Page is the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley. Designed to link neighbors with local volunteer opportunities, this is the place to start if you’ve got time and/or financial resources and a desire to help improve your community.

From the organizers of BeatWalk:

Columbia City BeatWalk continues its 16th season on Fri., Aug. 5, and volunteers are needed! The more volunteers we get, the more we can rotate work shifts, and the more our volunteers can enjoy all of the great music!

BeatWalk has several new venues this season which means more great music, that volunteers enjoy FREE in exchange for collecting cover charges at the doors of the venues from 7 – 9:30 pm.

As if that’s not enough – enjoy free dinner compliments of Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria at 6:15 before heading out to stamp hands and hear the wonderful music.

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Meredith@splab.org today!

Photo/Columbia City BeatWalk

Tagged as: , , , , , ,

GIVE: City Fruit Needs Volunteers and Fruit Trees for Upcoming Harvest

07.17.2011 Volunteering

Looking to get involved? Our Give Page is the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley. Designed to link neighbors with local volunteer opportunities, this is the place to start if you’ve got time and/or financial resources and a desire to help improve your community. From City Fruit: Every year in August [...]

Read the full article →

GIVE: Volunteers Needed Saturday for John C. Little Reforestation Project in New Holly

07.15.2011 Volunteering

Looking to get involved? Your RVP’s Give Page is the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley. Designed to link neighbors with local volunteer opportunities, this is the place to start if you’ve got time and/or financial resources and a desire to help improve your community. From New Holly neighbor David Sohlstrom: [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Paint Out Graffiti in Your Neighborhood; Free Supplies Available Saturday

06.30.2011 Volunteering

This Saturday, the City of Seattle will launch a new program providing citizens with the supplies necessary to paint out graffiti in their neighborhood. “Summer Paint Out” runs from July through August. From the City: Whether you are a group or an individual, you can tackle graffiti in your neighborhood. The City of Seattle supports [...]

Read the full article →

Food Bank Benefit Raises More Than $156,000 for Needy Families

06.29.2011 Health & Wellness

Last Saturday, 600 people braved the rain and cold weather to join Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s (ACRS) 21st Annual Walk for Rice at Seward Park. They also raised more than $156,000 for the ACRS Food Bank to purchase rice and other Asian staples. “For many of our clients, the ACRS Food Bank is the [...]

Read the full article →

With Rainier Valley’s Urban Wilderness Project, Local Youth Gain Leadership Skills, Service Learning Hours & More

05.30.2011 Arts/Living

This summer, youth ages 14 to 19 are invited to apply for the Youth Leadership Program with Urban Wilderness Project (UWP), a community-based, volunteer-supported organization headquartered in Columbia City. The two-part program is for those interested in social justice and environmental stewardship while learning to use the arts to become community/cultural activists. “UWP is helping [...]

Read the full article →

GIVE: SEEDArts Seeks Artists and Volunteers for New Valley Vibes Jazz Series (UPDATE)

05.09.2011 Arts/Living

Looking to get involved? Your RVP’s Give Page is the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley. Designed to link neighbors with local volunteer opportunities, this is the place to start if you’ve got time and/or financial resources and a desire to help improve your community. From SEEDArts: SEEDArts and its new [...]

Read the full article →

Bridge to Beach Makeover 2011: Rainier Valley Neighbors Come Together to Clean Up Community

05.07.2011 Arts/Living

By Susan Davis, Executive Director, Rainier Chamber of Commerce and Rainier Chamber Foundation Think back to the glorious warm and sunny day this past Sunday: the warmth in the air, the extra bounce in your step, the smiles on faces as you passed them by on the street, because you too were out soaking up [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

MONDAY: Deadline to Register for Bridge to Beach All-Valley Clean Up

04.23.2011 Volunteering

Have you registered for the third annual Bridge to Beach All-Valley Clean Up on Sun., May 1? Everyone’s help is needed as hundreds of Southeast Seattle friends and neighbors pitch-in to clean up streets, parks, gardens and planting strips in our community. The City of Seattle will provide trash grabbers, gloves, trash bags, and garbage [...]

Read the full article →

GIVE: Volunteers Needed for Fun in the Sun Along Chief Sealth Trail

04.22.2011 Development
Rainier Valley

Looking to get involved? Our Give Page is the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley. Designed to link neighbors with local volunteer opportunities, this is the place to start if you’ve got time and/or financial resources and a desire to help improve your community. From the Ribbon of Parks Association: The [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries