Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
NOVEMBER 19, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 47
A Giving Option Beyond the Holidays: Seattle Children’s Welcomes Year-Round Donations for Kids in Care Staff Report
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uring the holiday season, many Seattle residents look for ways to brighten a child’s day. At Seattle Children’s Hospital, the need for comfort, creativity, and distraction continues throughout the entire year. The hospital’s In-Kind Donation Program supports thousands of young patients by providing toys, books, art supplies, sensory tools, and gift cards that help children cope with long treatment days and unexpected hospital stays. Seattle Children’s items yearround for the Child Life and Family Resource Center. These donations help fill playrooms, stock bedside activity kits, support procedure preparation, and allow staff to celebrate birthdays and milestones in a child friendly way. WHY THESE DONATIONS MATTER Hospital environments can feel overwhelming for young patients. Child Life specialists use age-appropriate items to help reduce fear and support emotional health. A small craft kit can calm a child who is waiting for an MRI. A soft toy can comfort a child after surgery. A
book or puzzle can make a long inpatient stay feel more manageable. Families also benefit from donated gift cards that can cover meals, personal necessities, or urgent items that were left at home when a visit became longer than expected. IMPORTANT NOTE: HOLIDAY DONATION PAUSE Seattle Children’s will pause all in-kind donations from December 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026. Anyone hoping to give during the holiday season is encouraged to donate before December 21 or after donations resume on January 5, when items are especially needed again. WHY DONATIONS MUST BE NEW AND UNUSED Seattle Children’s requires all donated items to be new, unopened, and unused in order to protect patient health. Many young patients have fragile or compromised immune systems. Dust, pet dander, bacteria, or residue on previously owned items can pose a risk, even if the item looks clean. This policy ensures that every donation brought into patient rooms and shared activity spaces is safe for children who are medically vulnerable.
WHAT THE HOSPITAL CAN ACCEPT Seattle Children’s welcomes a wide selection of new items, including: • Infant and toddler toys • Books for all ages • Art and craft kits • Sensory toys such as fidgets and stress balls • LEGO sets • Toiletries for family members Handmade items are now being accepted on a case-by-case basis with advanced approval from the In-Kind Gift Coordinator. Please email the hospital or call 206-9877078 before creating or dropping off handmade goods. Items for teens such as journals, earbuds, and sketchbooks Gift cards, especially Target, Amazon, and general prepaid cards A LOCAL WAY TO GIVE BACK ALL YEAR Unlike seasonal toy drives, Seattle Children’s relies on steady, yearround support. New patients arrive every day with their own fears and uncertainties. Community donations help staff brighten long hospital stays, ease stressful moments, and offer children a sense of normalcy. For Seattle residents, seniors, families, and volunteer groups who want
to make an immediate difference close to home, a single item can bring comfort to a child navigating a difficult chapter.
More information, including dropoff instructions and approved items, is available at seattlechildrens.org/ giving/toys.
Wild Sockeye Shines in Seattle’s Salmon Week
eattle diners can look forward to a flavorful week ahead as Bristol Bay Salmon Week returns November 17 through 23. The celebration brings wild Alaskan sockeye to menus across the city, including several favorite restaurants in Queen Anne and Magnolia.
have kept the fishery healthy for decades, which is why it remains one of the most sustainable in the world. During Salmon Week, chefs throughout the region turn this iconic fish into creative dishes. Pan-seared fillets, smoked chowders, sushi rolls, and house specials all offer diners a chance to taste the difference that comes from truly wild salmon.
A TASTE OF TRUE WILD ALASKA Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest run of wild sockeye salmon. The fish are known for their rich color, firm texture, and naturally high omega-3 content. Careful management and strong community stewardship
SUPPORTING FISHING FAMILIES Every fillet featured during Salmon Week comes from small, family-run fishing operations in the Bristol Bay region. Many crews include parents, children, siblings, or lifelong friends who work short and intense seasons
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each summer. Ordering wild sockeye helps support their livelihoods and the ecosystems they depend on. Seattle’s long connection to Alaska’s fisheries makes this event feel especially close to home. Many local chefs have championed traceable seafood for years, and this week gives diners a chance to appreciate that work. The full list of participating restaurants is available at bristolbaysockeye.org. LOCAL FLAVOR AND LOCAL IMPACT For Queen Anne and Magnolia, Salmon Week is more than a good meal. It offers a welcome boost for neighborhood restaurants that are still rebuilding after the past few years. It also highlights our region’s maritime roots and the ties many Seattle families have to Alaska’s fishing industry. Whether it is dinner out, a fillet from a local market, or a photo shared with the hashtag BristolBaySalmonWeek, residents can help support sustainable fishing and the businesses that keep our neighborhoods lively. WHY WILD MATTERS Choosing wild sockeye benefits both the environment and the plate. Wild salmon migrate
across vast distances and feed naturally, which gives them a clean flavor and a strong nutritional profile. By contrast, farmed salmon often face challenges such as overcrowding and pollution. The Bristol Bay fishery is widely recognized for its science-based management. Biologists monitor the runs each year and set catch limits to ensure enough fish return to spawn. The result is a thriving, renewable resource. HOW TO JOIN IN • Visit bristolbaysockeye.org to explore participating restaurants • Call ahead to learn about special dishes and make reservations • Ask your server how the salmon was prepared • Share your meal on social media using the hashtag BristolBaySalmonWeek • Pick up wild sockeye at local markets if you plan to cook at home Bristol Bay Salmon Week offers a flavorful way to support fishing families, neighborhood restaurants, and sustainable practices. From Alaska’s wild waters to the tables of Queen Anne, it is a story worth celebrating.