| Mar |
| 11 |
| 7:30 am |
Tukwila resident Serges Hakizimana (pictured, left) will be honored on Thursday, March 11th, by the American Red Cross at their 2010 Heroes Breakfast in downtown Seattle.
Hakizimana, originally from Burundi, has been serving as part of the Red Cross Language Bank in Seattle, where he learned how to bring people together and help them understand each other. From there he started organizing people in other ways, establishing community funds, cultural training and more.
Before Hakizimana was born, his parents fled the ethnic violence of Burundi. They educated their son in refugee camps, which was not an easy task. Although safe from the violence that drove them from their homes, Burundian refugees faced new challenges of confined living, being told where to live and what to eat. They were never required to pay for the things they were given, but nor were they permitted to have jobs or earn money.
In 2007, Serges was one of the first Burundians who relocated to the King County area. Recognizing his unique skill with language, his case worker directed him to the Red Cross Language Bank in Seattle, where Serges learned how to bring people together and help them understand each other. From there he started organizing people in other ways, establishing community funds, cultural training and more.
There are now 30 Burundian refugee families in the Seattle metro area who rely on Serges as their leader. He has taught some of them enough English to find work, and helped others get a small business loan to establish a farm in Kent. Through it all, he serves as a role model, balancing his time between work, volunteer, school and community.
Fifteen heroes will be honored at the 14th Annual Heroes Breakfast – sponsored by Costco Wholesale. Here are the details:
WHAT: 14th Annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast
WHEN: Thursday, March 11th from 7:30am – 9am
WHERE: Washington State Convention Center, located at 800 Convention Place in Downtown Seattle (Click here for directions)
INFO: All proceeds will support disaster relief efforts in King County. More information available here.
Friday morning, the Seattle Red Cross dedicated a new Disaster Relief Supply Center in Burien with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and here are some photos taken by Photographer Michael Brunk:
The event included representatives of the Red Cross, Southwest Suburban Sewer District and the City of Burien.
The timing of this opening seems rather serendipitous considering the recent swine flu news, so all residents should have more confidence that now there’s a local shelter with emergency supplies which can be used for future disasters, with cots, blankets, hygiene kits, and more; as well as provide short term emergency shelter for up to 750 people.
The Disaster Relief Supply Center is located at 510 SW 158th Street, and was created with a generous grant from The Tiffany Circle, a Red Cross Society of Women Leaders.
| May ’09 |
| 1 |
| 11:00 am |
Friday (May 1st), at 11am, the American Red Cross will dedicate a new Disaster Relief Supply Center in Burien with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 510 SW 158th.
The event will include representatives of the Red Cross, Southwest Suburban Sewer District and the City of Burien, and the center will will store emergency supplies which will pre-positioned for use in future disasters and can be transported to emergency shelters. The cots, blankets, hygiene kits, etc., will provide short term emergency shelter for 750 people.
The Disaster Relief Supply Center will be located at 510 SW 158th Street (map below), and was created with a generous grant from The Tiffany Circle, a Red Cross Society of Women Leaders.
“The Tiffany Circle members are particularly excited to see the completion of this Disaster Relief Supply Center in Burien,” stated Judy Holder, Tiffany Circle Chair for the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties. “We believe in the importance of community disaster preparedness, particularly in areas with vulnerable populations. We are proud to be providing this support.”
“Southwest Suburban Sewer District recognizes the importance of emergency preparedness as individuals and as regional partners. We are excited to provide our support in helping bring this asset to our community and the region,” said Ron Hall, General Manager for the Southwest Suburban Sewer District.
The American Red Cross is the country’s leading disaster relief organization, providing immediate emergency relief to those in need and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. All Red Cross disaster relief is free, funded through the generosity of the American people.
For more information about the Red Cross in King County, call (206) 323-2345 or visit www.seattleredcross.org.
The wagons are circled, and what we’re christening as the B-Good In B-Town movement has begun, with several new fundraisers schedule and folks accepting donations to help the victims of last weekend’s tragic, fatal fire.Here’s how you can help right now:
- CASH DONATIONS:
- You can now make a cash donation at any Sterling Savings Bank branch by specifying the “Burien Fire Fund.” NOTE: If you want to donate to a specific family, be sure to let the teller know the name of the family. Sterling Savings is located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien; phone is (206) 243-6869 (Lynda).
- You can also donate to the Seattle Red Cross’ “Burien Apartment Fire Fund.” Make sure “Burien Apartment Fire Fund” is selected in the pull-down menu when you donate.
- CLOTHING & SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:
- Collins Chiropractic at 619 SW 152nd Street; 206-242-0998, contact: Lindsay
- Sterling Savings Bank at 224 SW 152nd Street; 206-243-6869, contact Lynda
- LARGER ITEMS:
- As of Thursday, July 10th, larger furniture items can be dropped off at Sunnydale School in Burien, located at 15631 Des Moines Memorial Drive. If you have a larger item, please call either Erin or Lindsay at Collins Chiropractic (206-242-0998), or Lynda at Sterling Savings (206-243-6869) to make arrangements for pick up of the item(s) if the person has no way to deliver the item to Sunnydale.
- FUNDRAISERS:
- This coming Sunday July 6th, from 5pm-9pm at Bison Creek Pizza located at 630 SW 153rd Street (206-244-8825) – Sickamore, Jonn Rockwell, Skwish & the Mighty Return of Horsehedd will be playing at an outdoor all-ages bash; small household items, clothing and cash donations will be collected at this event.
- Wednesday July 16th, from 6pm on, at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub located at 435 SW 152nd Street – a special Silent and Live Auction fundraiser for the families with live music and much more. If you have items to donate to either auction – contact Patty Sader at Discover Burien 206-433-2882.
UPDATE 2:30pm 6/30/08: The tragic apartment fire that killed three early Sunday has been determined as being arson and a $10,000 reward has been set for information leading to an arrest.
Lots of generous B-Town Blog Readers have been asking how they can help the victims, and here’s what we recommend for now since relief efforts are still developing:
Donate online directly to a “Burien Apartment Fire” fund courtesy the American Red Cross. The Red Cross website says:
“Help the Red Cross provide food, shelter and hope to the victims of the Burien Apartment fire. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. By making a gift to this fund, your gift will be used to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by the fire. If you would prefer to make a gift to support the thousands of disasters the Red Cross responds to each year across the country, please select the National Disaster Relief Fund. If you wish to support disaster relief in our local community, please select the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties Fund.”
- Donate by phone: With a credit card, you can make a secure Red Cross donation over the phone weekdays between 8:30am – 5:00pm by dialing (206) 323-2345. Make sure and specify that the donation goes toward the “Burien Apartment Fire”.
- Donate by snail mail: Send a check or money order to the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties with “Burien Apartment Fire” in the Memo Field and mail it to:
Seattle Red Cross
P.O. Box 3097
Seattle, WA 98114-3097
- As of today, here are local businesses that are accepting donated goods for the fire victims:
- Sterling Savings Bank, located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien is accepting and holding donations; contact number is (206) 243-6869
- Collins Chiropractic, located at 619 SW 152nd in downtown Burien is accepting and holding donations; contact Lindsay at (206) 242-0998
NOTE: Until we gather more info on the victims, we recommend that our Readers either donate cash directly to the Red Cross, or purchase Gift Cards to local businesses and drop them off at either Sterling Savings or Collins Chiropractic.
Until we know specific needs and sizes we recommend NOT donating clothing yet – stick to either cash or Gift Cards for now.
If you own a business, or are a BTB Reader who wishes to help, please email us – our goal is to serve as the online resource for assisting our neighbors in need, and this effort is only just beginning.
UPDATE: A major three-alarm fire in Burien last night left three people dead, injured six and left around 50 people homeless.
The fire, in the 400 block of SW 155th Street, was reported at about 12:45am Sunday morning.
“I heard an explosion and glass shattering,” said Lisa Johnson, who a resident of the apartment building. “So I automatically had my granddaughter with me and came out.”
“The streets were just filled with people running and screaming … and the apartment was in flames,” she said.
The first fire crews roared in, sirens wailing and horns blaring, to find a two-story apartment building with heavy fire and smoke pouring from the front of the building, said Dave Nelson, spokesman for King County Fire District 20.
The two-alarm blaze quickly escalated to a three-alarm fire when an adjacent apartment building’s roof caught fire, and more fire crews were needed to battle the spreading flames.
Kenneth Mason, who lives nearby, came running when he saw the crackling flames and that’s when he spotted five people, including a baby, trapped behind a jammed-shut glass door in the burning building.
Mason yelled at a woman in the trapped group.
“I said, ‘Get out! Get out! There’s a fire! There’s a fire!’ and she said, ‘We can’t get out!’ And my friend Sam grabbed a big old brick and went and busted the glass door,” he said.
“And they threw the baby out and gave me the baby, and the rest of the guys came out – and then the fire really got bad.”
Amid the mayhem, a teenage girl jumped from a second-story window in another part of the building, suffering injuries.
Ladder trucks from Tukwila and Renton were able to pour water from above while King County firefighters took a defensive position to stop the fire from spreading to two other buildings.
The first building was completely destroyed and the second building suffered major damage.
Six people were treated at area hospitals, including the girl who jumped from her window. Other injuries include burns and smoke inhalation.
As of Sunday morning, fire officials were still accounting for occupants of both buildings. Many people went with family and friends and to Highline Medical Center to be with family members who were injured.
No firefighters were injured battling the fire.
Firefighters from around South King County assisted in fighting the fire including Renton, Tukwila, Kent, Seatac, South King Fire and Rescue, North Highline, King County Medic One, King County Fire District 20, Seattle and King County Sheriff Fire Marshals Office.
The Seattle Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting nearly 50 displaced people and sheltering them at a local school.
Firefighters will remain on scene to assist in the investigation.
At this time due to the building’s weakness fire investigators will have to wait until its safe to go inside the first building to determine the cause.
Damage estimates are not available at this time.
Stay tuned to the B-Town Blog for an online fundraising drive to help your neighbors in need.
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