Thousands raised to help tattoo artist recover from Capitol Hill assault

(Image: @bunkyart)

Hundreds of donors have rallied around a Capitol Hill tattoo artist who must undergo medical procedures and surgeries after a nighttime assault earlier this month as she walked near Cal Anderson on the way to the light rail station.

Danielle “Bunky” Oyster detailed the apparently random Saturday, February 10th assault that left her with facial injuries in a fundraiser plea that has raised thousands to help the tattoo artist’s recovery. Oyster told KIRO the situation has become even more dangerous as she is now fighting a flesh-eating bacterial infection after the lacerations and stitches to her head. Continue reading

Fundraiser supports Pike/Pine business couple struggling with medical expenses

Friends are rallying around a fundraiser to help cover expenses for two members of the Pike/Pine business community battling health challenges.

A fundraiser has been set up to help Ray Ochs and Rick Jones as the couple behind E Pike fashion boutique Sergius & Bacchus have struggled to keep up with around $10,000 in unplanned medical expenses:

“We’ve been able to scrape by over the last few years relying on money we had in personal savings, which are now depleted,” the couple writes. Continue reading

‘Help the King of the Hill pay his medical expenses’ — Fundraiser supports E Olive way convenience store owner’s recovery

(Image: Google)

A neighborhood grocer who has been serving his Capitol Hill neighborhood for more than 20 years needs help with his medical bills — and your good thoughts for his recovery.

Friends have set up a fundraiser with a $100,000 goal to help Aklilu Abraham, owner of the E Olive Way King of the Hill convenience store, as he recovers from emergency brain surgery: Continue reading

Capitol Hill Community Post | 2022 Stevens Elementary School PTA Holiday Tree and Greenery Sale — Plus, the return of the community pancake breakfast

From the Stevens Elementary School PTA

We’re gearing up for the 2022 Stevens Elementary Holiday Tree and Greenery Sale. This year also includes the triumphant post-pandemic return of the community pancake breakfast and holiday concert. Other than a pandemic year off the Stevens holiday tree sale fundraiser has been running since the mid-80s! Continue reading

Capitol Hill Station Plaza steps up to host outdoor edition of annual Omnivorous food and drink fundraiser for Community Roots affordable housing provider

The plaza will be lit up — and a little chilly — Thursday night

The Capitol Hill Station plaza continues take shape as the neighborhood’s newest community gathering space. It will be put to use in a whole new way this week as an annual fundraiser to support an organization developing affordable housing across Capitol Hill and Seattle that has grown into a showcase of great Seattle food and drink will take place in the plaza.

Community Roots Housing is holding its yearly Omnivorous event Thursday at Capitol Hill Station:

We’re thrilled to host Omnivorous outdoors at the newly completed Capitol Hill Station Plaza this year! The open-air space that hosts the Capitol Hill farmer’s market will allow us to social distance and adhere to all current public health guidelines.

Continue reading

Neighborhood pitches in after ‘flower guy’ hit by driver at 11th and Pike

(Image: Vermillion)

Seattle Fire says it was only at the scene for a couple minutes but the community around 11th Ave’s Vermillion has responded in a big way after a neighborhood character was struck by a driver while crossing E Pike.

Mohammed “the flower guy” is finding a lot of support in the neighborhood even as he remains mostly a mystery while Vermillion has mounted a small fundraiser on his behalf:

Anyone who has ever spent an evening or two on Capitol Hill likely knows Muhammed, the rose guy. He is a kind and loving soul who has survived so much adversity, and still spreads so much love.

Vermillion is collecting funds to help via Venmo and cashapp: @vermillionarts $vermillionarts. Add a note to let them know who the money is for. Continue reading

Quieted by pandemic and trashed by break-ins and squatters, Capitol Hill gay dance club Neighbours says it needs your help to survive

(Image: Neighbours)

Break-ins and squatters have decimated the space home to Capitol Hill dance club and iconic Seattle LGBTQ venue Neighbours, shuttered for months under COVID-19 restrictions.

“After 9 years in Vancouver and 38 years in Seattle, Neighbours may have to close their doors,” performer Roxy Doll writes in a fundraiser plea launched to help the nightclub. “COVID-19 is one thing, but to have to replace and rebuild everything on top of being shut down for who knows how much longer. I don’t know if they are going to make it.”

The goal, Doll tells CHS, is to raise enough so that Neighbours can reopen again when restrictions are relaxed and to give any extra to a charity to help others.  You can give here.

But that day is currently a long way away — made even more distant by a mix of brazen and desperate actions. People breaking in cut through the fire door and even a walk-in freezer door at one point. The sound systems, all alcohol, lighting equipment, and all the cameras have been stolen, Doll said. The club has ended up filled with human waste, needles, and trash dragged in from outside. The floor and walls have been spray painted and tagged. Someone cut holes in the walls looking for copper pipes. Continue reading

Capitol Hill church fundraising to repair historic windows damaged during protests

Central Lutheran Church sits at the corner of 11th and E Olive and holds its place in the middle of the communities around Cal Anderson Park including hosting religious services and providing space to feed the hungry in partnership with the Capitol Hill Community Lunch nonprofit.

The old church has also found itself in the middle of the protests that have continued in the area around the park and the East Precinct and, like many buildings near Cal Anderson, has suffered property damage during the unrest.

Some blows have hurt more than others. In August and again in September, Central Lutheran’s historic stained-glass windows were damaged. It is now hoping to raise $60,000 to repair the broken glass.

“Please help us restore our windows to their former appearance so that we can continue our service to the Capitol Hill community and greater Seattle for another 117 years,” the church’s Central Council writes.

You can learn more and give here.

After nearly 50 years, Seattle Gay News needs your help to keep printing

Celebrate Pride and freedom of the press by helping a Seattle LGBTQ insitution stay in business.

The Seattle Gay News needs a boost after the passing of its longtime publisher George Bakan:

George saw the SGN through the worst of times during the AIDS crisis and through the best of times, including the fight for marriage equality and many other victories. We’re determined to preserve his legacy and to keep his vision going. But life, changes in the print industry, and especially COVID-19 have taken their toll on even one of the most resilient independent publications in the United States. Independent journalism is now more important than ever, and we need your help in getting our feet under us for this next adventure.

CHS wrote about Bakan’s death earlier this month here. He had been in charge of SGN since 1983.The paper has a nearly 50-year history in the city. Continue reading

Capitol Hill gay bars and performance venues raising funds to help Down Under

Capitol Hill’s gay bars and performance venues are raising funds in celebration of Australia Day to help recovery from the country’s bushfire crisis.

Bush Bash is a fundraiser happening this Saturday, January 25, at four Seattle gay bars. The funds raised that evening go to The Australian Community’s Disaster Relief Fund. R Place, Diesel, Queer/Bar, and White Center’s Lumber Yard are all having special fundraising performances or events to raise money to help people and wildlife affected by the Australian bushfire crisis.

Meanwhile, a 12-hour drag fundraising event will do its part to Save the Koalas Sunday at Capitol Hill’s Fred Wildlife Refuge. Continue reading