The Port of Edmonds has turned a glass piggy bank with a belly full of keys into a fundraiser for a local merchant injured when a car crashed into her picture-frame shop March 16.
The benefit is for Barbara Mercer, who, as of The Enterprise deadline, remains in serious condition at Harborview Hospital’s intensive care unit with complications from broken bones, collapsed lungs and other injuries. The 79-year-old driver of the car that plowed through the concrete-block wall of Mercer’s shop at 514 Fifth Ave. S. in downtown Edmonds was uninjured.
The Edmonds Police Department’s investigation of the accident continues.The bank and some old, bronze dock keys in the port offices gave rise to an idea by port employees to sell for a donation of $5 for each guess as to how many keys are in the transparent tummy of the desktop bovine dubbed Ms. Portly, according to port officials. Donations beyond that amount, they added, are welcome.
Until the contest concludes at noon on Tuesday, May 1, Ms. Portly can be found at The Bank of Washington’s Edmonds branch, 303 Fifth Ave. S. The port’s signature restaurants, Anthony’s Homeport and Arnie’s, each offered a $100 gift certificate as contest prizes. The winning guesser gets first choice of prizes and the runner-up, the remaining prize.
Port commissions, staff and their dependents and Bank of Washington staff and their dependents are not eligible to participate in the contest.
“Barbara Mercer’s sad situation has reminded me again of what a wonderful staff we have here at the Port of Edmonds,” said Chris Keuss, port executive director. “Scarcely a day goes by that I am not impressed with their spirit and attitude. Their response to her need is just the most recent example.”
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