Tacoma mayor, faith leaders host 'Interfaith Drive-In' to inspire hope amid COVID-19
TACOMA - The City of Tacoma recognizes many people are struggling with stress, anxiety and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.Mayor Victoria Woodards and area faith leaders are hosting their first “Interfaith Drive-In” at 6 p.m. Monday at Cheney Stadium to safely bring the community together to share words of encouragement and support.“I felt like it was the right thing to do,” said Woodard. “I know that just like every other crisis, we will get through this.”People of all different religious backgrounds and views are welcome to participate in the special event.
Giant potato giveaway comes to Tacoma Dome
TACOMA -- Potato farmers of Washington are doing what they can to help those struggling amid the COVID-19 crisis.The Washington State Potato Commission plans to give out 200,000 pounds of potatoes Thursday at the Tacoma Dome.
Seattle woman is getting a laugh everyday with silly sidewalk antic
SEATTLE -- Lately, the best pick me up is a good laugh and one Seattle woman has found a way to laugh every day.“I saw it on Facebook and it just brought me back to Monty Python silly walks and cracking up with my family I made some signs,” Talvo said.The signs posted outside Talvo’s home, along Woodland Park Ave N, in Wallingford are prompting people passing by to bust out in their silliest walk or dance.“The parents will actually read the sign and start dancing it takes a minute for the kids to catch on by the time they reach the second car it’s a pretty good scene,” neighbor Greg Francke said.On Saturday, Talvo’ son Declan showing off his signature move, the bunny hop, followed by his dad showing off the grace of a ballerina.The laughter it creates leads to connection.“I heard laughter and in these times you look for laughter,” Carolyn Schott said.“We say hi to people just walking anywhere now more so than we did before all of this started,” neighbor Suzanne Romain said.They will keep looking out their windows as long as others play along and Talvo is keeping score.“There definitely has been a lot of 10s I am not a picky scorekeeper,” Talvo said.It’s all about getting a little silly because we all need to laugh.
Historic Concrete Theater holds pop-up Popcorn Parade
CONCRETE, Wash., -- While many of us are stuck home and binge watching TV shows or watching the latest movie release, how much better would that all be with a big bucket of buttery popcorn?If you are up for the drive or in the area, you can get your movie theater popcorn fix in Skagit County Saturday night.The owner of the Concrete Theater held its first "pop-up popcorn parade" two weeks ago and it was a huge success, with the theater selling more than 175 tubs of popcorn to benefit the concrete community center.While the theater remains closed, community members are once again going to be slinging the buttery goodness along main street Saturday night, this time to help out with the theater’s expansion, which was built back in 1923!They are selling large tubs of popcorn for $5.
Air Force flyover honors frontline workers in Western Washington
Look to the skies on Friday, May 8 when two huge military cargo jets will fly over western Washington to honor healthcare workers.
Deputy's '10-A-Day' lifts people with intellectual disabilities out of isolation
SEATTLE -- A King County sheriff’s deputy has taken on a personal crusade to make sure those at the highest risk of isolation stay active and engaged.Sheriff’s deputy Kristi Bridgman is helping Special Olympics athletes train in a time when they haven’t been able to compete.Distancing and stay-at-home orders mean athletes like Zach McBryde can’t train like they need to.The deputy made a pledge to herself to make house calls to athletes for athletes like McBryde.
Being a neighbor during a pandemic has taken on a new meaning
SEATTLE - Every Wednesday and Saturday there is a movement in North Seattle.“We are cooking meals and delivering them to people,” Pastor Paul Corner said.But the volunteers don’t belong to a specific church group, non profit or a company, they are all neighbors.“I was seeing what was going on, on Facebook I was seeing friends being laid off people struggling,” Rachel Duboff said.So Duboff did something about it by creating "Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Seattle" on Facebook.“We just launched a Bellevue branch they have their first delivery next week,” Duboff said.The goal is for the neighborly movement to spread everywhere because demand is everywhere.On Saturday dozens of people met outside Duboff’s home including Pastor Corner.“We can always be good neighbors to each other there is things like this going around in the city but I think even just small ways just the ways people are checking in with the people they live near,” Corner said.Volunteers can do a variety of things from preparing and sharing a home cooked meal to deliveries and making phone calls.On Saturday, the group dropped off food feeding 50 people and in the past 5 weeks they have delivered hundreds of meals.“We haven’t gotten our stimulus check yet and it’s been a total blessing,” Heidi Herman said.Heidi and wife Coco say the meals they’ve received are heartwarming.The couple owns Cat Ladies Cat Sitting, a small business they can’t operate right now so finances are tough.“Seattleites can be kind of shy you know on the street the Seattle freeze people don’t interact very much but this showed me that I am surrounded by really kindhearted people and really caring people, it just gives me hope,” Coco said.Hope is exactly what Rachel is going for.“That we all care about each other and they are not alone in this I know I have felt alone in this process and then I get a phone call or someone drops flowers off,” Duboff said.Duboff’s group is delivering meals to people in North Seattle but the goal is to expand.
Duff and Susan McKagan donate masks to UW Medicine
SEATTLE -- A special delivery took place on Friday thanks to a local rock legend and his wife.Seattle musician Duff McKagan and wife Susan wanted to make sure childcare staff at UW Medicine have what they need for personal use between work and home.The couple donated 1,000 masks that were made by Chrome Hearts – an exclusive, high-end fashion and lifestyle brand coveted by A-list musicians and celebrities."It really feels cathartic to give back,” Susan said.The McKagans say they appreciate all of the people who work at hospitals and they plan to donate a thousand more masks next week.
8-year-old twins donate allowance for Washington families in need during pandemic
SEATTLE -- The coronavirus pandemic has been rough on all of us.
Local nonprofit uses food truck to deliver free healthy meals to those in need
SEATTLE -- It's important to take a few moments to focus on the good around us and the good people who are working to make things better as we navigate our way through the coronavirus pandemic.It's a time when so many people are feeling alone, but one local nonprofit is making sure the most vulnerable people - don't go hungry too.A nonprofit called Northwest Share offers free vegetarian food four days a week from a food truck in Seattle's University District.
Janelle Monáe to perform in livestreamed concert to support small businesses amid COVID-19 pandemic
Janelle Monáe will be the latest artist to perform in Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live entertainment series on Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET. | 5 p.m. PT.Donations made during the concert will benefit the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund. “As people support their favorite small businesses with #PayItForwardLIVE, Verizon will commit an additional $10 per use of the hashtag, up to $2.5 million, for a total of up to $5 million in support,” according to LISC’s website.Here’s how you can watch:-Some Fox TV Stations’ websites-FOX's CoronavirusNOW, both coronavirusnow.com and the CoronavirusNOW channel on Samsung TV Plus (1006)-AXS TV-Fios Channel 501 and 604-Twitch-Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages-On Verizon’s Twitter page-Yahoo-The concert can also be listened to on iHeart and SiriusXMMonáe also tweeted about the upcoming performance on Wednesday.
Through art, kids find ways to interact during pandemic
VASHON ISLAND, Wash. -- There is a sweet innocence to these paintings.
Tacoma Facebook group steps up to help small business
TACOMA -- A local Facebook group is trying to help small businesses through the power of social media.Q13 Photojournalist Michael driver shows us how people are stepping up to help a community in need.
Q13 FOX raises over $130,000 for the Salvation Army during virtual food drive
Seattle – Q13 FOX viewers rallied to support their neighbors in need by donating over $130,000 to the All Local, All Together Virtual Food Drive, hosted by Q13 FOX and benefiting The Salvation Army.Donations made during the one-day event will be used to help local food banks restock their supplies, which have been in higher demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Salvation Army estimates a roughly 40 percent increase in requests for food support over the last two months, with nearly half of the requests coming from new individuals.“Our viewers never cease to amaze us and once again stepped up to help in a big way,” said Pam Pearson, SVP/GM Q13 FOX. “The results of this event went above and beyond our expectations and we are honored to help ensure that local families have enough food during this difficult time.”The virtual food drive began at 7 a.m. during Q13 FOX’s morning news program Q13 News this Morning and concluded nearly 16 hours later on Q13 News at 10pm.Throughout the day, viewers were encouraged to donate online through the station’s website or by calling a virtual telethon staffed by Salvation Army volunteers and Q13 News staff."We are just truly greatful to the community for stepping up and being a part of this," Cpt.
Seattle Police encourage you to wave to first responders Friday night
On Friday, April 24, Seattle police officers will be joining Seattle firefighters in an effort to connect with the community. It’s a way to wave and say hello from a distance.
Seattle opera singer brings 'good vibratos' to neighbors with front yard concerts
SEATTLE -- On any given weekday, a socially distant crowd gathers in Seattle's East Ballard neighborhood.At 5 o'clock on the dot, Stephen Wall emerges from his home.
Local woman helps homeless sign up for stimulus checks
EVERETT, Wash. - A local woman is doing what she can to help people experiencing homelessness during this pandemic.For years, Penelope Protheroe has worked with people experiencing homelessness.
Bellevue nonprofit lifts people with disabilities out of isolation during pandemic
So many of us are feeling isolated right now. It’s something people with disabilities experience all too often. During this time, thankfully, there are several local nonprofits stepping up, making sure they're supported.