Hello, neighbors and friends!

What's Good in PhinneyWood:
We want to hear your stories!

The PNA and the the Greenwood Branch of The Seattle Public Library are teaming up on a project to build community around our shared experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to hear your stories, see drawings or photos, or anything else you’d like to share with your Greenwood/Phinney neighbors. We are interested in what you’ve been doing, what is bringing you joy or sadness, what new things you’ve discovered, how you and your community are helping each other, and other ways the pandemic is affecting your day-to-day lives. For more info, click here, or write to greenwood@spl.org! [en Español]

(Photo: Dana--with her husband John--arranged $2k worth of socially-distanced flower orders for Phinney neighbors from a struggling business.)  

Kids & Seniors Pen Pal Project

Calling all older adults and parents of kiddos! Want to receive some fun letters in the mail and help kids learn the craft of communicating via snail mail? Join our pen pal project!

Kids practice their penmanship, communication skills, and how to address an envelope. Kids and seniors both get to make a new friend. And who doesn’t love a handwritten note in the mail? 

Here's how it works: Kids and seniors will sign up and get matched with their own pen pals. Letters will be exchanged via the Phinney Center address (for privacy and safety); we'll forward them on. (You can choose later to communicate directly if you wish.) We'll even provide writing prompts. Get started by signing up here. Know an elder neighbor or relative who would want to participate? Please share! (P.S. We may even have a "meet party" when this is all over!) 

Pandemic Poetry:
Words of Resilience and Compassion

During the month of May, the PNA invites anyone and everyone in our community to share your poetry with us. This is a time of hardship and uncertainty for many. Even though we can’t see each other in person, your words can lift up your neighbors. 

The theme is "Words of Resilience and Compassion". Send us a short poem you’ve written and we’ll post it on the showcase page. If you like, include a video of yourself reading it. This is not a competition; just an opportunity for connection during this disconnected time. We'll post poems as we receive them all month long, so check back often to see the latest the community has to offer.

Learn more and submit your poem here. 

Are you in need of free childcare?
We may be able to help. 

Whittier Kids, our licensed child care located at Whittier Elementary, has prioritized providing free child care to students experiencing homelessness, children whose families qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch supports, and children of first responders, which includes medical personnel, hospital/clinic personnel, EMTs, firefighters, essential SPS staff providing meals, child care workers, grocery store workers, and pharmacy workers. 

Care is available Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:30, for 12 Kindergarten-5th grade students per day. If your family meets the prioritized list above and you need child care, contact us at whittierkids@phinneycenter.org or 206.782.2508. 

Do you know an elder who needs connection or support?

If you know a senior who needs support or a check-in call -- or you are just concerned -- please call the Greenwood Senior Center at 206.297.0875. We are checking messages daily. 

Thank you for providing for our vulnerable neighbors!

Thanks to your amazing generosity, our Amazon wish list for the Hot Meal Program is almost fulfilled! We are so grateful for the support of our community. (Photo: making hygiene kits from Amazon deliveries.)

Support our local economy

Patronize our local businesses with this guide of what they are offering and how you can best support them - whether it’s take-out or gift cards. Have an update? You can send one in too!

Mask-sewing or kit making

Are you a sewist? We need reusable (washable) cloth masks for our teachers, meal and delivery volunteers, seniors, members, staff, and community. Don't sew? Help by cutting material and assembling kits. Extra masks will be distributed through our friends at the Seattle Mask Brigade. Get the details and sign up.

Help Seniors Stay Home and Stay Healthy

Deliver meals and/or groceries, pick up prescriptions, help with yard work, walk the dog, and check-in. Aside from the opportunity to help keep seniors safe, the beauty of this volunteer gig is the flexibility – you get to select which opportunities work for you. Learn more & sign up.