Grand Opening for The WORKS at its new home at the Shoreline Center

Shoreline Council PTA Co-Presidents Silje Sodal and Susie Moore address the crowd 
at The WORKS grand opening. Photo by Curtis Campbell

There was a lot of love at The WORKS Grand Opening, held in its new space on the evening of November 5th! 

To celebrate this milestone event, Shoreline PTA Council hosted Shoreline School Board members, Superintendent Rebecca Miner, Deputy Superintendent Marla Miller, Capital Projects Manager Dan Stevens, Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park, and a bevy of supporters, volunteers, teachers and principals, along with one of the original founders of The WORKS in 2002, Karen Dixon.

Shoreline PTA Council Co-Presidents Silje Sodal and Susie Moore welcomed the crowd and briefly described how The WORKS needed to relocate this past summer from the North City Elementary portables due to the exciting new school construction currently happening in the District.

While a PTA Council task force researched options for relocating, the District 'saved the day' by offering use of a surplus storage space within the Shoreline Center.

From left: Shoreline School District Superintendent Rebecca Miner, Shoreline School Board member Heather Fralick, Shoreline School Board President David Wilson, Former Shoreline Council PTA President Kim Ositis, Shoreline School Board Vice President Michael Jacobs, Chair of The WORKS Jill Steinberg, and Shoreline School Board member Dick Nicholson.
Photo by Curtis Campbell

Susie and Silje thanked Supt. Miner and Deputy Supt. Miller for their generous support and creative solution.

Jill Steinberg, Chair of The WORKS, thanked community members for their donations and significant volunteer time, noting that The WORKS wouldn't exist without such strong community support over the years.

She also gave special thanks to the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park which recently provided funds for $1,200 worth of new winter coats, the new rolling divider wall in the store and funds for outdoor signage. Heidi Shepherd of Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park spoke fondly of feeling part of the Shoreline School District family.

Superintendent Miner closed with kind words describing the District’s strong partnership with Shoreline PTA Council, and the celebration concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of The WORKS / Council PTA office. Shoreline School Board President David Wilson had the honor of cutting the ribbon to much applause.

The WORKS is a free clothing resource provided by Shoreline PTA Council and is open on Wednesday evenings for Shoreline School District families from 6:30-8:00pm when school is in session (they will be closed on November 21).

Families in need of clothing assistance who cannot make it to The WORKS on Wednesdays can contact Jill Steinberg at shorelineptaworks@gmail.com or 206-393-4916 to set up a private, confidential appointment.

During the 2017-2018 school year, The WORKS served over 700 students at the Wednesday night store, and this year that number is expected to rise even higher. The store is located at 18560 1st Avenue NE, on the north side of the Shoreline Center.

Some attendees getting a tour of The WORKS store
Photo by Curtis Campbell

If you would like to donate to The WORKS, new or gently used shoes and clothing in kid sizes 4T-16 are accepted, along with adult shoes and clothing that is appropriate for high school students.

Items can be dropped off at The WORKS on a Wednesday night between 6:30-8:00pm. Clothing and shoes can also be dropped off at the Shoreline Training and Production Center, the red brick building to the east of The WORKS (with the smoke stack), on Monday-Thursday 9:30-1:00pm. If you need to schedule an alternate drop off time, please contact Jill Steinberg at shorelineptaworks@gmail.com.

Currently at the top of The WORKS’ wishlist are leggings for girls (sizes 4T-16) and winter coats and sneakers in all sizes.