Snohomish County Sea Hawkers support several local charities

They came in old-school Seahawks jerseys, T-shirts with the team logo, and the Hawks’ bright new “Action Green,” worn boldly by one up-to-date fan from Edmonds.

It was meeting night, not Blue Friday or game day. For members of the Snohomish County Sea Hawkers, a chapter of the Sea Hawkers Booster Club, a get-together for dinner and group business is still cause for suiting up in fan regalia.

The local Sea Hawkers chapter meets year-round, the third Tuesday of each month. Its venue is a banquet room at Shawn O’Donnell’s, an Everett restaurant and pub. On Tuesday, a special guest was the only one in the room in a suit and tie.

Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary offered a lighthearted apology for his business attire, then switched to a sobering subject.

He was there to accept dozens of new stuffed animals donated by local Sea Hawkers. Mostly teddy bears, the toys were stacked near the banquet room entrance. Their next stop, Trenary told the crowd of 40 or so, would be Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center.

Named in honor of former Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Seth Dawson, the nonprofit houses a team who help child victims of sexual or physical abuse. It’s a one-stop center in downtown Everett where child interview specialists, working with law enforcement, seek justice for the most vulnerable victims — kids.

Also at Dawson Place, the Providence Center for Assault and Abuse conducts forensic exams of children involved in physical and sexual abuse cases. “The goal of Dawson’s Place is to stay with that child until they don’t need services,” Trenary said.

Nina Therres, president of the Snohomish County Sea Hawkers, said members have been bringing in bears since March. “We send them with a lot of Seahawks love,” she said.

While Sea Hawkers are fans first, the group is serious about its community. Therres spoke about charities the club will help this season.

Sea Hawkers bring nonperishable food to every meeting. Coming from all over Snohomish County, members take turns delivering those groceries to food banks throughout the area. “We are able to bless every food bank,” Therres said. “We’re spreading the love.”

Hand in Hand is an Everett-based nonprofit providing short-term shelter and necessities in the first 24 to 72 hours after children needing foster care are removed from their homes. Therres said local Sea Hawkers are partnering with the organization this year. She said that some Seahawks and “many in this room were touched by the need for foster care.”

During the holidays, Sea Hawkers will be involved with Wreaths Across America, an organization that places wreaths on graves of U.S. military veterans at cemeteries nationwide. For each wreath sold, Therres said, the local club will donate $5 to Hand in Hand.

Meetings cover business, but members can’t help but have fun. Therres said this year’s membership is at least 200. There is no requirement that members have Seahawks tickets.

“I can scream just as loud from home,” said Nikki Jones, of Bothell, the local club’s treasurer and vice president of membership with the Sea Hawkers central council. The team’s official booster club has 14 satellite chapters, within 50 miles of Seattle, and dozens of associate satellite chapters around the country and overseas.

Many members here watch games at Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse in south Everett.

David “Shipwreck” Werven, 40, was dressed as a “12th pirate” Tuesday. Jena Werven, the Lynnwood man’s 43-year-old wife, also has an alter ego — “12th mermaid.”

Lori Hammond, of Edmonds, stood out from the crowd in her Action Green shirt. “I love this new color,” she said.

At 83, Barbara Callaghan is a new Sea Hawker. The Everett woman and her husband Elmer Callaghan, who died in June, were longtime season ticket holders. “It’s going to be fun. It’s an outing for me,” said Callaghan, who attended the meeting with her daughter, Jeanette Postma, and other loved ones. Her great-grandson, 18-month-old William Postma, is a pint-sized fan who wore a Seahawks T-shirt.

Callaghan said she now watches her team on TV, “even when it’s not good.” Speaking of not so good — well — no one did. Little was said at the meeting about that unfortunate 9-3 loss to the Rams Sunday.

“It’s two games into the season,” Therres said. “We’re OK.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Learn more

The Snohomish County Sea Hawkers Chapter meets the third Tuesday of each month in the downstairs banquet room of Shawn O’Donnell’s restaurant and pub, 122 128th St. SE, Everett. Meetings start at 7 p.m., preceded by a no-host buffet dinner ($16) at 6 p.m. Annual membership is $16 per person or $26 for a family.

Information: http://www.seahawkers.org/sea-hawker-chapters/snohomish-county/