information from West Seattle Junction Association

In times of solidarity, joyful or mournful, we often look up to see our emotions reflected in the Space Needle in larger-than-life beacons of city pride, seasonal festivities or national reverence. In late March, Major Jenny Durkan raised our latest flag – #WeGotThisSeattle –  as a hopeful rallying cry to stand strong and healthy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting stay-at-home order.

As Seattle collectively faces this crisis, many small businesses are struggling to survive. You can contribute to the West Seattle Relief Fundto help favorite shops like Husky Deli, Click! Design That Fits and Wild Rose’s survive the extended pandemic crisis. You can donate online via credit card, scan the Junction Venmo VR code, or send a check. 100% of the donation goes directly to the businesses you select.

What you give, you get in return  - if we all give, we all benefit.

Attitude and behavior is essential for individuals to weather this crisis, but local business infrastructure is strained, suffering from lack of revenue from quarantined residents.

West Seattle, built on small businesses, is a neighborhood navigating this challenging time. Some shops changed business models overnight to keep the loyalty of their beloved customer base. Social media feeds of residents are full of heartfelt pleas to shop local. 

Adding to this incredible campaign is a gift card match, powered by the good people of West Seattle Christian Church. West Seattle Christian Church wants to help those who are most in need during this health and economic crisis. And they want to help West Seattle restaurants at the same time.

Pastor Worth Wheeler says, “We want to boost our local West Seattle restaurants with $500 to $1,000 by purchasing gift cards from them that we can turn around and donate to the West Seattle Food Bank to use as they see fit or auction at their Instruments of Change online auction next week on May 9th. In this creative and unique way we can help those in our community who are most in need by giving local businesses a direct infusion of funds while also multiplying the impact through the mission of the West Seattle Food Bank. It’s an exponential win for everyone, and we’re hoping our West Seattle neighbors will flock to our local businesses to purchase goods, services and food, and join us in paying it forward through food bank as well. 

Joining the match, Verity Credit Union, which has been founded on promoting strong and viable communities, has committed to a $10,000 match. Beginning May 5th, Verity will double every donation which means double the impact and double the hope.  West Seattle businesses will be able to weather the financial storm twice as effectively with Verity’s support of this generous match.

“At Verity Credit Union, we know that when the community thrives, so do we.   But it isn’t about us,” said John Zmolek, Verity CEO. “Pulling together and helping our businesses and our community is just the right thing to do.  We’re proud to be a part of the Junction and happy to do what we can to help all of us steer through this crisis.”

The West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) is in communication overdrive, keeping followers up-to-date on openings, closures, deliveries or pickups via their website and social media, to keep businesses top-of-mind for consumers. What they are finding, however, is that these tactics can only help for so long. Between the extended stay-at-home order and residents’ concerns about leaving the house, more and more West Seattle businesses are either choosing to close or forced to close, with the fear that these closures might become permanent.

While Governor Inslee said, “Washingtonians know what it is to work together,” West Seattleites also know how to take care of each other. They are asking local residents to look within to help to support the businesses that they know make their neighborhood a better place to live, to come back stronger after the lockdown. They’ve added their own hashtag, complementary to Durkan’s,- #GotThis WS, that taps the power of each individual to make a difference, with firm expectations that residents will do their part to save their community. 

West Seattle continues to grow from a rich combination of deep heritage and new traditions, from 88 year-old, family-owned and -operated Husky Deli to craft breweries and the all-sustainable Public Goods and Services. These campaign components are designed to remind long-time residents of their neighborhood’s worth and validate for newer residents what they already think is pretty special.

“If you can help us, we’d love to help you.”

Jack Miller, Third-Generation Owner, Husky Deli

The mission of the West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) is to develop, encourage, promote and participate in activities that enhance a healthy economic, social and environmental climate for the West Seattle Junction community. Junction businesses, from specialty shops to small retail chains, are supported broadly by the WSJA in their outreach efforts to attract shoppers for recreational, dining and retail purposes. Community members also benefit from WSJA programs that promote safety and maintenance of the area, beautification, engagement opportunities and public events.