If you read The White Center Blog regularly, you’re probably aware that, aside from providing a much-needed and timely service to the White Center area, we’re growing very quickly in both traffic, content and Advertisers (more info on us here).

And growth can be good, except of course when it starts to overwhelm a very small staff.

Hence, this posting – we’re looking for at least two capable folks to come join our Burien-based team:

1. JOURNALIST/EDITOR with Wordpress knowledge (or you’re at least not afraid to learn it). Yes, we need another Editor to collect content, format it, copy edit, add graphics (and do appropriate FTPing if necessary), then push the “Publish” button to update some of our up-and-coming blogs (we currently have 6 total, with more coming soon…).
2. SALES REP who can call on local businesses to let them know about us. We have nice Rate Cards, fast-growing traffic, solid, original Reporting and Photography, and we’re finding that selling Ads is easy – we just need more feet on the ground!

Here’s some more info:

• We prefer to find local folks who live in the area (and yes, you can work from home!).
• We like people who are involved in their communities (we’re active in ours).
• We like to find people who either read the blog already, or know of us.
• You can work part or full-time (some folks working here now have other gigs).
• You can set your own hours.
• This is a “ground-floor opportunity” and you will be part of a small, growing team.
• These are Contractor (1099) positions, meaning that you’ll be paid on an either per-job/hourly basis or pure Commission. And believe it or not, we also accept Volunteers! There are no benefits other than working with a fun, local, talented team who like to make a difference in their community.
• Your work will be seen not just here on The White Center Blog, but our five other area sister sites as well, including:
  • The B-Town Blog
  • The Waterland Blog (for Des Moines)
  • The Normandy Park Blog
  • The Tukwila Blog
  • The SeaTac Blog

Requirements:

• Please have a computer and internet access (we’ll give you an email account).
• Please have a reliable car & valid driver’s license.
• Please have the ability to manage your clients throughout their entire Ad run on the sites (this includes staying in contact with them, renewing them when their contracts expire, etc.).
• You will work as an Independent Contractor, meaning you’ll be responsible for your own taxes, insurance, etc. and there are no additional benefits).
• You dig the internet and are excited about its future possibilities, including new technologies like the upcoming iPad.
• You like Local News, Events, Arts, Entertainment and more, as well as helping out your community(we hold our own Fundraiser Blog Parties about once per quarter, and over our 2+ year lifespan have raised over $13,000 for local charities).

To apply for one of these positions, please email us your resume, links to your online stuff (ie: Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs, etc.), and your interests and availability!

by Ralph Nichols

Local groups and projects that receive financial support from the Exchange Club of Highline can look forward to a good year despite the lingering recession.

The Exchange Club’s annual spaghetti dinner and auction at St. Bernadette’s School on Jan. 30 “was a huge success!” member Sherrill Miller of BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery told The B-Town Blog.

“Attendance was up over last year,” Miller said, with about 280 people attended the evening event. “Preliminary numbers indicate we made over $30,000” from the dinner with wine, a dessert auction, a raffle, and both silent and live auctions, which also “is more than last year!”

Miller added, “With our annual spaghetti dinner and auction, the funds generated are used to meet the ongoing needs of various community organizations.”

All money raised goes right back into the community, and “will be used to support more than 30 community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, area food banks, WestSide Baby, Ruth Dykeman Center, local schools, backpacks and school supplies for kids, Crisis Clinic, and many more.”

At their regular meeting on Feb. 3, Exchange Club members said they were pleased with the “festive appearance” of the dining hall, adding that “the food was fantastic” and everyone “had all they wanted to eat.” They reserved special praise for the students who waited on tables.

“Donations (for the auctions) in this down economy were up,” it was reported, and “people already are talking about donating” for next year’s event. The Exchange Club got 285 items for the silent auction and anothe4 38 for the live auction.

The Exchange Club is a national service organization. The Exchange Club of Highline was established in 1961 with the goal of bringing business and community leaders together to support the needs of the Highline community.

Members also volunteer their time to community projects such as working at the White Center Food Bank one Saturday each month.

More information on The Exchange Club of Highline is available at its website here.

King County Councilmember Julia Patterson donated a “retired” eight-passenger van to Sea Mar Community Health Centers Wednesday (Jan. 20th), in an effort to help South King County’s growing Latino community.

There are 50 non-profit, community Sea Mar locations in King County, with two in White Center, including a medical clinic at 9650 15th Ave. SW and a dental clinic at 9650 15th Ave SW. There are also clinics in Burien, and a recover clinic in Des Moines.

Patterson was greeted by a crowd of grateful volunteers and staff who were eager to take a look inside the shiny, blue, van and welcome her to Sea Mar (see pic below).

“I am very touched by the work of Sea Mar Community Health Centers and their commitment to providing quality, comprehensive care to individuals and families across King County,” said Councilmember Patterson. “Their Des Moines location serves an incredibly diverse, low-income population, which will benefit greatly from having this new mode of transportation to and from much-needed medical and dental appointments.”

Sea Mar Community Health Centers was established in 1978 with a single medical clinic serving Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. Today, Sea Mar, a private, non-profit community health center, operates nearly 50 medical, dental and behavioral health clinics and centers in 10 western Washington counties. Sea Mar is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive health and human services to diverse communities, including low income, underserved and uninsured populations. Sea Mar specializes in services to Latinos and is an innovative leader in the delivery of bilingual and culturally appropriate healthcare and social services. For more information, visit Sea Mar’s website here.

”We are pleased that the County has selected our inpatient, long-term treatment program as a beneficiary of its van distribution program,” said Rogelio Riojas, Sea Mar’s Chief Executive Officer. “We intend to make the van available to any resident or person who comes to the treatment center for care and services. It will be a great resource for our program.”

Since 1995, the King County Council has donated vans to nonprofit groups to help meet the transportation needs of low-income, elderly, youth, or people with disabilities in King County. The vans are part of a fleet of county vehicles that have been ‘retired’ after accruing a certain number of miles. This is the eighth year that each member of the council has been able to donate vans.

The vans were donated through an annual application process.

For more information about applying for a van, contact Councilmember Patterson’s Office at (206) 296-1005.

Monday, Jan. 18th is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and to honor his legacy, the local American Red Cross and HOPE worldwide Washington are holding a “Day of Service” where they are seeking volunteers to help, beginning at 10am and continuing to 1pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: American Red Cross and HOPE worldwide local “Day of Service”

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 18th:

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Rally Celebration with Seattle Sea Gals, Blue Thunder
• 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Volunteers canvass neighborhoods in White Center and Burien
• 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Educational activities from American Red Cross & HOPE worldwide in the SW Boys and Girls Club

WHERE: Kick-off rally will take place at the Southwest Boys & Girls Club, located at 9800 8th Ave SW in White Center. Canvassing will take place in White Center and Burien neighborhoods.

INFO: From their press release:

Volunteers will gather at the SW Boys & Girls Club for a community rally and educational activities and interactive safety demonstrations for neighborhood youth.

The Seahawks Sea Gals, Blue Thunder and Seahawks heroes Mack Strong and Leonard Weaver will be on hand.

After the rally, volunteers will canvass door-to-door throughout local neighborhoods, talk with residents and leave behind door hangers with safety information. The door hangers include information about smoke alarms, creating a household fire escape plan and tips for cooking and heating a home safely this winter. The door hangers provide information in English and Spanish.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized that strong families and communities make dreams come true. The Red Cross and Hope worldwide want to honor that legacy by keeping local neighborhoods safe.

Home fires remain one of King County’s most common disaster threats. Right here in our community, the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties responds to a residential fire every 48 hours.

When the weather gets colder the potential for home fires always grows, but according to a recent survey conducted by the American Red Cross and National Fire Protection Association, this year the potential for home fires may increase even more as people, concerned about the cost of heating their homes, plan to use an alternative source of heat- like a space heater or stove- to lower their bills.

The American Red Cross is a non-profit, humanitarian agency dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. For more information, visit www.seattleredcross.org.

HOPE worldwide is an international charity that changes lives by harnessing the compassion and commitment of dedicated staff and volunteers to deliver sustainable, high-impact, community-based services to the poor and needy. For more information, visit www.hopeww.org.

The White Center Blog, along with our sister site The B-Town Blog, look forward to seeing as many of our Readers and Neighbors as possible this coming Saturday, Nov. 14th, at the White Center Albertsons for a special Thanksgiving-related food drive: our 2nd Annual Turkeys N’ Diapers Fundraiser!

It’ll run from 10am to 4pm, and all donations will go to the White Center Food Bank (food) and WestSide Baby (diapers & baby stuff).

Albertsons is located at 16th Avenue SW and SW 106th Street in White Center.

We’ll be collecting turkeys and diapers (yes, that’s correct: turkeys and diapers!).

Important note about the diapers – says Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of WestSide Baby:

“We only need diapers in large sizes, Size 5 or 6 or Pull-ups in size 4T. Thanks!”

Stuffing and canned vegetables and other Thanksgiving-related food items would be greatly appreciated.

Donations in the form of cash and checks (made out to “White Center Food Bank”) will also be gratefully accepted.

The crew will be lead again this year by the blog’s own Bart Bryan, host of the recurring interview segments “Whaddaya Think?”

“We raised over $1,100 last year. Let’s double that this year!” said Bart. “Folks around here can really use the help!”

The White Center Food Bank will make available the food, as they do year-round, to nearby families in need.

The Food Bank works hand-in-hand with WestSide Baby, a nonprofit organization that collects previously-owned items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to South King County families in need.

In 2008 WestSide Baby served more than 12,000 children.

“See you all Saturday at the White Center Albertsons!” says Bart.

Here’s year-round contact information:

White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone: 206-762-2848

And:

WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
(206) 767-1662
www.westsidebaby.org

Click image (or here) to download a printable PDF poster (feel free to print & post!)

Nearly 800 freshmen and transfer students from Seattle Pacific University will participate in an annual community service project in White Center on Saturday, Sept. 26th called “CityQuest.”

Students and staff will be at the following locations from 10:30am to 2:30pm doing various community service projects:

• Nature Consortium at 14th Ave SW & SW Holly. Their tasks will include mulching, weeding, and possible trail work.
• Green Seattle Partnership at 5951 Delridge Ave SW. They will help with urban forest and creek restoration by invasive plant removal and mulch spreading.
• Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW. They will remove invasive plants.
• Hicks Lake, at 10 Ave SW, near the intersection of SW 112th Street. They will remove blackberry bushes and scotch broom.

CityQuest brings together students, faculty, staff, & alumni for more than 30 different community service projects throughout Seattle.

So if you see a group of college-aged students wearing work clothes cleaning up the ‘hood on Sept. 26th, be sure to thank them!

For more info on SPU’s CityQuest in your neighborhood, call SPU Urban Program Coordinator Owen Sallee at 206-427-1296 (cell).

ACORN, a community organization of low- and moderate-income families headquartered in nearby Burien, is seeking area residents to help take action to save a White Center home from foreclosure this Friday, Sept. 11th starting at 3pm.

Volunteer “Foreclosure Fighters” are needed at ACORN’s Burien office (located at 134 SW 153rd St. Suite D, Burien) to help resident Maria Morales from losing her home Friday, when a grassroots phone bank will place calls to Litton Mortgage, Morales’ lender.  Volunteers are needed to make phone calls demanding Litton work with Maria and modify her loans.

Members will also call Morales’ State Legislator Margarita Prentice to request her to take action on the foreclosure crisis.

“I am a single mother and this is all I can offer to my children. I want to do everything I can to keep my home,” said Morales.

Tens of thousands people in Washington state are losing their homes. Neighborhoods are in tatters and the economy is in ruins while financial institutions like Litton and Goldman Sachs are taking tax dollars and giving away huge bonuses. They are refusing to do even the bare minimum for homeowners by modifying mortgages that qualify for the Obama foreclosure plan.

Morales and other ACORN Foreclosure Fighters were stymied June 30th as they tried to confront the Goldman Sachs financial firm in downtown Seattle. Ms. Morales (whose mortgage is held by Sach’s Litton and scheduled for sale on Sept. 25th) was actually locked out of the building. ACORN members believe this to be the lender’s general attitude regarding their mortgage clients.

ACORN Foreclosure Fighter members, allies, and struggling homeowners, outraged at not only the treatment of their members, but also the ongoing foreclosure crisis that is tearing apart families, neighborhoods, and the economy, will take grassroots action to save members’ homes this Friday. In March, President Obama announced Making Home Affordable, a $75 billion effort to prevent 4 million foreclosures. However, many who SHOULD qualify are not receiving modifications from their lenders.

ACORN members believe their legislators missed an opportunity to prevent foreclosures in the last legislative session. ACORN is starting the fight to win real statewide reform this Friday.

ACORN is the nation’s largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 450,000 member families organized into neighborhood chapters in 100 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

To volunteer, call ACORN at 206-723-5845, or email Theresa Guerrero here ASAP; for more information on ACORN, visit their website: http://www.acorn.org.

Local non-profit New Futures is currently seeking candidates to serve as members of the Board of Directors, to do the things that board members do best – help raise funds, do marketing, publicity, planning, advising and much more.

In case you’re not familiar with New Futures, they have a site located at 135 SW 116th Street in the Arbor Heights area in White Center:

We have been a part of this 98-unit apartment complex since spring 2004. Arbor Heights Apartments are located in the diverse White Center Community, and are owned by the King County Housing Authority. Our community center opens to a playground that sits in the center of the complex, and is where the After-School Program hosts its many “kid-planned” events, like a Carnival, a Luau, and BBQs.

Arbor Heights used to be called the Cone Center. In honor of our founding executive director, we renamed it the “Roxanne Hood Lyons Family Center.”

Here’s more info from their website:

New Futures’ mission is to partner with families to create communities where children thrive. Our integrated, culturally relevant programs build skills, foster connectedness, and promote strengths. Within low-income apartment complexes in South King County, which have the highest rates of poverty and school failure in King County, New Futures provides educational programs and support services to families we work with.

We have four sites in South King County: Arbor Heights in White Center, The Heights at Burien (formerly Vintage Park) in Burien, Windsor Heights in SeaTac, and Woodridge Park in Boulevard Park. We impact all of the 3,500 individuals in the apartment complexes in which we are located with services that include translation, advocacy with management and schools, support with basic needs like food and clothing, community-building events, outreach, increased social cohesion, and reduced crime.

In addition to general board member responsibilities (see below) New Futures is looking for 1 – 3 people that have one or more of the following attributes:

• Resides and/or works in South King county
• Possesses fundraising ability/experience/ contacts
• Represents families we serve/ cultural competency/knowledge of community New Futures serves
• Has marketing expertise

If you would like more information about serving on the Board please contact Jenn Ramirez Robson at jenn.ramirez@yahoo.com.

If you are interested in New Futures but are unable to make the commitment required for a full board seat at this time, please consider volunteering for one of their standing committees:

• Strategic Planning
• Fundraising

Here’s the job description for New Futures’ Board Members;

The board as a whole has the responsibility for governing the entire organization, for establishing and upholding the organization’s mission and vision and for preparing for the organization’s successful future.

Planning:

• Establish the organization’s mission, vision, values, priorities (strategic plan) and keep them in focus at all times
• Plan for the organization’s future on a long-term and short-term basis
• Ensure alignment of program priorities with strategic plan
• Ensure the evaluation of programs and operations on a regular basis

Human Resources:

• Recruit, orient, train and recognize board members and provide them with opportunities to grow and develop as leaders
• Hire, orient, support and guide the Executive Director and evaluate his/her performance annually
• Develop personnel policies, including setting salary ranges, benefits and grievance procedures

Finance:

• Ensure financial accountability of the organization and ensure appropriate financial controls are in place
• Assist in the development of and approve the annual budget
• Oversee the organization’s properties and investments
• Review and approve audit and respond to any issues

Development:

• Ensure adequate resources to fulfill the organization’s mission
• Participate in fundraising activities
• Help identify, steward and thank major donors

Community Relations:

• Enhance the organization’s public standing by clearly articulating its mission, accomplishments and goals to the public
• Ensure that the programs and services appropriately address constituent needs
• Promote collaborative relationships with other organizations
• Help identify opportunities to promote the organization

Operations:

• Conduct annual board performance evaluations and establish plans to improve board accomplishments and processes
• Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability to 501(c)(3) guidelines and to each other
• Maintain an effective structure with committees appropriate to the size of the organization
• Conduct board meetings that generate and utilize the best possible thinking of its members

Individual Board Member Responsibilities:

• Learn and keep in focus the organization’s mission, vision, values, goals, policies and programs/services
• Suggest new board members
• Serve on at least one committee
• Avoid conflicts of interest
• Follow trends in the organization’s field
• Prepare for and participate in all board meetings
• Read and understand presented financial statements
• Exercise prudence regarding the expenditure of funds
• Represent the organization in the community
• Participate in board fundraising activities including the annual event
• Make a personally significant financial contribution
• Attend New Futures organized public functions
• Be open serving in a leadership capacity 5-10 hours per month, including:
  • board meeting preparation and attendance
  • committee meeting preparation and attendance
  • fundraising and special requests
• Serve a minimum of 3 years

More information on New Futures is available at their website.

The Highline School District will be offering up free meals all summer long, including both breakfast and lunch at 13 different locations, most beginning on Monday, July 6th.

The district has been offering free summer meals for at least the last ten years, and the USDA-funded program has expanded significantly to include community sites as well as schools.

“Based on the estimation from our sites, we may serve up to 1,000 breakfasts and 2,000 lunches plus offer snacks to some sites,” said Brianna Smith, RD, Nutrition Services Manager.

Who is served by the Summer Food Service Program?

• All children 18 years and younger are eligible for the Summer Food Service Program. There is no registration or fee.
• All children are welcome to eat a meal at summer school sites, even if they are not enrolled in a summer program.
• The meal must be eaten at the site and be finished within 15 minutes of the final serving time.

Who pays for it?
The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded child nutrition program that feeds children nutritious meals during the summertime when school is out and children don’t have access to school meals. It was created to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations. Funding for the Summer Food Service Program is provided with federal dollars and is sufficient to meet expenses related to sponsorship of the program.

What is the purpose of the program?
Clearly, the nutritional needs of large numbers of children who depend on school meals during the school year are not being met in the summer. Good nutrition is essential for learning.

How are site locations determined?
Service sites for the Summer Food Service Program are determined based on:

1. Eligibility criteria.
2. Interest and need at the school building level.
3. Interest and need at community centers.

Here’s where and when the FREE Summer Meals will be available:

• Bow Lake School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  18237 42nd Ave S SeaTac 98188
• Evergreen School
  Breakfast: 7:15-7:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 10:45-11:15
  830 SW 116th Seattle 98146
• Gregory Heights School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  16201 16th Ave SW Burien 98166
• King County Parks – White Center
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00 July 7-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 4:00-5:00
  1321 SW 102nd St Seattle 98146
• Midway Elementary School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  22447 24th Ave S Des Moines 98198
• Mt. Rainier School
  Breakfast: 7:15-8:00 Jul 6-Aug 7 M-F
  Lunch: 11:00-12:00
  22450 19th Ave S Des Moines 98198
• Mt. View School
  Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 Jul 6-Jul 30 M-Th
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30
  10811 12th Ave SW Seattle 98146
• Schoenwald Park
  Breakfast: 8:30-9:30 Jul 6-Jul 15 M-F
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00
  16030 Sylvester Road Burien 98166
• Seahurst YMCA
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:30 Jul 6-Aug 14 Mon-Fri
  Lunch: 11:30-12:30
  14603 14th Ave SW Burien 98166
• Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30 Jul 7-Aug 14 T-F
  Snack: 4:00-4:30
  15003 14th Ave SW Burien 98166
• Shannon South
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00 Jul 6-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 3:00-4:00
  3508 S 180th SeaTac 98188
• Southwest Boys and Girls Club
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30 Jul 6-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 3:30-4:00
  9800 8th Ave SW Seattle 98106
• White Center
  Breakfast: 8:15-9:00 Jul 6-Aug 7 M-F
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00
  10015 6th Ave SW Seattle 98146

• Food cannot be taken off the premises.
• The child does not need to be a Highline Public School student.
• There are no forms to fill out and no names are taken.
• Program is open to age 18 and under.

More information available at the Highline School District website.

Ever since we first created our exclusive, continually-updated, White Center-centric Jobs Section last September, we’ve done what we can to help both area residents and local businesses who need help, so it was only natural today when we found the following three job listings to share them with our Readers.

All are with the Highline School District at the Evergreen Campus (located at 830 SW 116th Street), with an application deadline of next Friday, March 27th; application info is included at the bottom of each listing:

1. HOMEWORK HUB SUPERVISOR:

Position Description: To provide program oversight for after-school tutors, volunteers, high school students, and activities of the Evergreen Homework Hub.

Note: The Evergreen Homework Hub is a new program on the Evergreen Campus. This position is a contract position from April-June 2009 with the possibility of a more permanent position during the 2009-2010 school-year.

Essential Functions:

• Supervise volunteers and tutors during program hours
• Assist in the recruitment of volunteers and tutors for the Homework Hub
• Supervise students and apply appropriate behavior management
• Complete required reports and maintain accurate records and documentation
• Maintain communication and relationships with school day and after-school staff
• Assist in supervising enrichment activities while on site
• Assist in providing periodic training sessions for tutors, volunteers, and CSC staff to increase competency in working with students
• Help students develop positive attitudes towards learning and studying
• Help students develop self-confidence, raise self-concept, and reduce anxiety or fear of failure in academic work
• Help students develop a high level of motivation in academic areas
• Assist students in achieving a better understanding of specific subject material and in improving academic capabilities in designated areas as needed
• Help students develop the study skills necessary for academic success
• Serve as a role model for students being served

Qualifications/Skills Required:

• Ability to use computers for entry into database, spreadsheets, word-processing and network software, including email; proficient use of telephone systems with voice mail; ability to use copy machine
• Strong and effective organizational and time management skills
• Working knowledge of age-appropriate education expectations and knowledge of student behavior management
• Ability to supervise volunteers; communicate effectively via oral and written communication; ability to work effectively with other team members; good people skills and personal judgment
• Ability to work under limited supervision following standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; creating a safe learning environment for all participants
• Comfortable serving ethnically diverse populations of youth and adults
• Bilingual skills preferred
• Proficient in language arts and high school level math
• Experience working with ages 14-18
• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with youth and adults
• Willingness to conduct special activities as needed
• Willingness to comply with established school district and Community Schools Collaboration policies and procedures
• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

Working Environment:
This job is primarily performed within school buildings in a generally clean and healthy environment. Work hours will vary from 15-18 hours per week, primarily afternoons; includes school early release days; includes meetings and trainings as scheduled by Community Schools Director; reports to Site Manager

Experience:
At least two years experience working with middle or high school aged students in educational or recreational setting. Experience with program management; experience working with multicultural, multilingual students and families preferred.

Education:
AA degree in job related field, such as Education, Social Work, or Recreation. Experience may substitute for educational requirements.

Compensation and Hours: $16-$18/hour; 15-18 hours/week approximate; April-June; There are no benefits for this position.

How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Chera Amlag, amlagco@hsd401.org by Friday, March 27, 2009. For questions, call 206.248.5474.

2. MATH & SCIENCE SPECIALIST:

Position Description: The general responsibilities of the Math & Science Specialist Tutor is to provide individual and small group tutoring to students in the Evergreen Homework Hub with an emphasis on Math and Science support. Other assistance might include: reviewing class material, discussing the text, predicting test questions, formulating ideas for papers/assignments, or working on solutions to problems.

Essential Functions:
•Provide academic assistance to students in the Homework Hub, either in a group or individually, particularly to students requesting math and science support.
•Attend periodic training sessions given by Community Schools Collaboration staff members to increase competency in working with students.
•Help students develop positive attitudes towards learning and studying.
•Help students develop self-confidence, raise self-concept, and reduce anxiety or fear of failure in academic work.
•Help students develop a high level of motivation in academic areas.
•Assist students in achieving a better understanding of specific subject material and in improving academic capabilities in designated areas.
•Help students develop the study skills necessary for academic success.
•Serve as a role model for students being served.
•Work with Homework Hub Supervisor to provide evaluations and other reports as requested by CSC staff.

Qualifications/Skills Required:
•Comfortable serving ethnically diverse populations of youth and adults
•Good listener; good oral/written communication skills
•Bilingual skills preferred
•Proficient in high school level math and science
•Experience working with ages 14-18
•Comfortable tutoring one-on-one as well as leading small groups
•Ability to work independently and on a team
•Ability to maintain a professional relationship with youth and adults
•Willingness to comply with established school district and Community Schools
Collaboration policies and procedures
•Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

Working Environment:
This job is primarily performed within school buildings after-school in a generally clean and healthy environment.

Compensation and Hours: $10-$13/hour; 8 hours/week; April-June 2009; There are no benefits for this position.

How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Chera Amlag, amlagco@hsd401.org by Friday, March 27, 2009. For questions, call 206.248.5474.

3. LANGUAGE ARTS & SOCIAL STUDIES SPECIALIST:

Position Description: The general responsibilities of the Language Arts and Social Studies Tutor is to provide individual and small group tutoring to students in the Evergreen Homework Hub with an emphasis on Language Arts and Social Studies support. Other assistance might include: reviewing class material, discussing the text, predicting test questions, formulating ideas for papers/assignments, or working on solutions to problems.

Essential Functions:

• Provide academic assistance to students in the Homework Hub, either in a group or individually, particularly to students requesting language arts and social studies support.
• Attend periodic training sessions given by Community Schools Collaboration staff members to increase competency in working with students.
• Help students develop positive attitudes towards learning and studying.
• Help students develop self-confidence, raise self-concept, and reduce anxiety or fear of failure in academic work.
• Help students develop a high level of motivation in academic areas.
• Assist students in achieving a better understanding of specific subject material and in improving academic capabilities in designated areas.
• Help students develop the study skills necessary for academic success.
• Serve as a role model for students being served.
• Work with Homework Hub Supervisor to provide evaluations and other reports as requested by CSC staff.

Qualifications/Skills Required:

• Comfortable serving ethnically diverse populations of youth and adults
• Good listener; good oral/written communication skills
• Bilingual skills preferred
• Proficient in high school level language arts and social studies
• Experience working with ages 14-18
• Comfortable tutoring one-on-one as well as leading small groups
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with youth and adults
• Willingness to comply with established school district and Community
• Schools Collaboration policies and procedures
• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

Working Environment:
This job is primarily performed within school buildings after-school in a generally clean and healthy environment.

Compensation and Hours: $10-$13/hour; 8 hours/week; April-June 2009; There are no benefits for this position.

How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Chera Amlag, amlagco@hsd401.org by Friday, March 27, 2009. For questions, call 206.248.5474.

The Burien/White Center Rotary Club will host their 2nd Annual Casino Night & Auction at the Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College (map below) on Saturday, February 7th at 4:30pm.

Tickets are $65 per person or $600 for a table of 10.

This event is the organization’s primary fundraiser for the year and helps them support several local nonprofit organizations such as:

• White Center Food Bank
• Highline Area Food Bank
• Westside Baby
• The Hi-Liners
• Miss Burien Pageant
• Highline Hospital Foundation
• YMCA
• New Futures
• Many others

To donate an auction item or to purchase a ticket please call Rick Jump at 206.351.6739.

To be included in the catalog items must be received by January 29th.

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Children from West Seattle’s Lafayette Elementary School, once attended by the White Center Blog’s own Mark Neuman, held a very successful food drive for the White Center Food Bank, with over 2,100 items donated last week.

Here’s more from their press release:

The Lafayette Elementary student council had a new idea this year while planning their annual food drive for the White Center Food Bank. They held a competition to see which class could collect the most items and kept track of the donations by teacher on a bulletin board in the front lobby. The donations quickly filled the collection barrel and started to fill the school’s front lobby.

All of the classes participated, but two classes led the competition: Ms. Rollin’s class collected the most items (251) and Mr. Beal’s class (203) came in second place.

Over 2,100 items total were collected school-wide.

Last week, the White Center Food Bank team had to make two van trips to transport all of the collected food down to their facility in White Center.

Lafayette’s student council sponsors two community service projects a year–one in winter and one in spring. James Morrison, Macy Crooks and Shelby Walker (in the photo) were the student council officers in charge of promoting the drive, keeping track of how many items were brought in, and updating a bulletin board daily to monitor our success. A huge thank you to these student leaders, Mimi Armistead (staff lead for Lafayette’s student council) and to all the generous Lafayette families who donated food.

Since this effort was so successful, Lafayette is going to continue collecting food for the White Center Food Bank (with a goal of a barrel a month) for the rest of the school year.

Lafayette Elementary is a Seattle Public School located at 2645 California Ave. SW. in West Seattle. For more information about Lafayette or their ongoing partnership with the White Center Food Bank, please contact Virginia Turner at 206-252-9500. For more information about White Center Food Bank, check out their web site at: www.whitecenterfoodbank.org; you can also donate directly online here.

Way to go kids!

Burien’s El Dorado West Retirement Community is playing Santa for the White Center Food Bank this month by placing a “Giving Tree” in their front lobby.

Everyone is invited to pick a card from the tree and purchase a gift or give cash donations for that person, then bring the gift back to be placed underneath it.

El Dorado is also partnering with White Center’s Evergreen High School Football Team’s “Wolverines” to be Santa’s Helpers.

The “Giving Tree” will be in the front lobby of El Dorado West through December 31st, so everyone has plenty of time to participate. You can stop by El Dorado during business hours – they’re located at 1010 SW 134th Street, at the corner of Amnbaum and SW 134th in Burien (map below).

“The Wolverines” will be delivering the gifts to the Senior Patrons of the WCFB on January 8th.

In March of ‘08 the WCFB implemented a “Seniors Only Day” for those over 60. Senior clients can receive food that helps them meet their unique dietary needs and builds in special social time.

Every month residents of El Dorado West volunteer during this time by serving coffee in what they call “Seniors Helping Seniors.”

And remember, food banks are really feeling the pinch of the recession, so any donation you can make is most appreciated, especially by your hungry neighbors.

Here’s how to reach both of our local food banks:

• White Center Food Bank
  10829 8th Ave SW
  Seattle WA 98146
  (206) 762-2848
  Donate directly online here
• Highline Area Food Bank
  18300 4th Ave S
  Burien, WA 98148
  Phone: (206) 433-9900

[From our sister site The B-Town Blog comes this story about how and where you can help needy neighbors in the White Center/Burien area this holiday season:]

Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department’s Lt. Inspector John Zilke is at it again!

As in years past, John is coordinating the very large and important Christmas Outreach Program in the Burien and White Center areas. Our very own Burien Fire Department (King County Fire District 2, Burien & Normandy Park) has been helping needy families during the holidays for over 20 years.

This translates to thousands of families enjoying a happy holiday because of Burien’s generosity.

This year, with the help of the White Center DSHS, 73 local needy families have been identified to be recipients of Burien’s largess. Thirteen local businesses have volunteered to be drop-off locations and are accepting NEW toys, canned food, gift cards and cash. Thanks to both our local Fred Meyer and your cash donations, each family will also receive a turkey dinner.

All donations must be made by the morning of December 22. Upon final collection, John and our firefighters match the gifts with the families’ needs at Sunnydale School, where they will be loaded up and delivered by Santa Claus and others on December 23.

To help out our fire department, eleven departments within Highline Medical Center have each adopted one family. Sylvester Middle School students and teachers will be conducting in-school food drives as part of this community effort.

John knows that this is a particularly tough year to ask for donations, but adds. “Your donations bring light to the holidays for a needy family.”

Following are the local businesses where you can donate to the Christmas Outreach Program:

• Albertson’s—15340 1st Ave S. & 12725 1st Ave S.
• Boulevard Park Place Seniors Community—2805 S. 125th
• Burien Fire Department—15100 8th Ave. SW & 135 S. Normandy Rd.
• Burien Chevrolet—1440 1st Ave S.
• Burien Toyota—15025 1st Ave S. & 139 SW 150th St.
• Collins Chiropractic—619 SW 152nd
• Curves—17824 1st Ave S.
• Dooley’s General Store—625 SW 152nd
• Frenzi—218 SW 153rd
• North Highline Fire Department—1243 SW 112th & 1606 S. 128th
• Highline Medical Center—16252 Sylvester Rd SW
• Highline Medical Center—Riverton Campus 12844 Military Rd. S, & 23030 Military Rd
• North Highline Fire Department—1243 SW 112th & 1606 S. 128th
• Red Apple Market—96th & Des Moines Memorial Dr.
• YB Tubless/Economy Wiring—633 SW 148th

The video above (courtesy WCB Reader Hope Kerkof) shows how 24 students from the 5th grade class at the White Center-area’s Shorewood Christian School helped out the Burien-Highline Food Bank on Tuesday, Nov. 25th.

The 5th graders volunteered their time and helped hand out food at the Burien-Highline Food Bank in Burien. They came prepared and brought with them a huge collection of stuffed animals to hand out to children at the food bank as well.

Mike Werle, Director of the Burien-Highline Food Bank explained that the food shortage is growing worse:

“Food drives are down and there is less poundage of food coming into the bank. We’ve had about a 30% increase in the number of people that come in here per day. The number of people seem to grow daily. The number one reason people are saying they are coming to the food bank is they have been laid off from their jobs. With the current economic conditions, the food shortage at food banks are expected to grow worse as unemployment rises.”

Nicko Morris, a 5th grade student at Shorewood Christian told about his experience that day: “I like giving because I like to see the smiles on the children’s faces. They looked like they were afraid. But when Emily and I gave our toys to the children, you could tell that they were just filled with joy when they reached for the toy. That’s what we all should do! It’s better to give than to receive.”

Rachelle Kerkof, one of the 5th grade girls in the class, “It was fun to see the kids’ faces when I gave them toys. I really enjoyed this experience.”

Mrs. Mary Lesnett, the 5th grade teacher, explained, “This is our 4th year supporting the Burien- Highline Food Bank. The kids love to get involved and help others. The experience impacts them greatly. I’m sure we will be doing this for many years to come.”

“At Shorewood Christian School, our students are involved on a regular basis with giving back to our community and making a difference in this world. Our students help at food banks, visit nursing homes, clean up streets and yards, and are always involved in some sort of fundraiser for a cause other than themselves. These are lessons that these students will carry with them for a lifetime. We want these students to grow up to become world changers.”, says Tim Lorenz, Principal of Shorewood Christian School.

Shorewood Christian School, a ministry of Shorewood Foursquare Church, is located in West Seattle and is currently enrolling pre-K thru 10th grade for the 2009-2010 school year. For more information you can go to www.ShorewoodChristianSchool.org.

Volunteering at the food bank is a great project for families, schools, and churches to do together. Not only will you help someone in need, but as the 5th grade students at Shorewood Christian School would tell you, it will make impact your heart and make you feel good too.

The Burien-Highline Area Food Bank is located at 18300 4th Ave South in Burien (map below); phone: (206) 433-9900

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We at both the White Center and B-Town Blogs strongly urge all Readers to pitch in and help this holiday season, as there are more hungry and needy neighbors than ever before. It's easy to help too – we did it on Saturday Nov. 22nd and raised nearly $1,200 – if we can do it, you certainly can!]

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Our “Turkeys N’Diapers” Fundraiser Saturday (Nov. 22nd) was a resounding success, with an impressive final tally of $1,170 in cash and food/baby item donations raised for the White Center Food Bank and WestSide Baby.

All of us here at the White Center Blog and B-Town Blogs send a huge THANKS to everyone who helped out!

Some details:

• Cash & checks donated: $201.00
• Food donations: huge rush at the end, with folks bringing shopping carts full of food; total # of food items donated approx. 606lbs (between 400-500 cans/packages) from Thanksgiving food items to soup to sugar to marshmallows and more – equal to $969 worth of food!
• $1,170 total donations for the day!

If you’d like to donate to the White Center Food Bank, you can do so directly online here anytime.

To donate to WestSide Baby, please click here.

We know that many hungry and needy families in the White Center/Burien areas will most certainly be thankful, and this couldn’t have been done without our loyal and generous Readers!