TULALIP — A smiling 7-year-old held a bright, polka-dotted umbrella in the pouring rain last weekend outside Donna’s Travel Plaza, a truck stop near Marysville.
Annabelle Middendorf politely offered $5 boxes of Camp Fire treats from the table next to her as patrons passed.
“I’m usually very shy and it makes me be brave,” she explained. “That’s the hard part of it.”
Annabelle and other Camp Fire members are out in force for their annual candy sale, which began Jan. 22 and will run through Feb. 15. It’s a tradition in Snohomish County dating back to the 1930s, when the local Camp Fire council was founded.
Proceeds from Creamy Smooth Mint Patties, Almond Roca and P-Nuttles help pay kids’ way to Camp Killoqua, a traditional outdoors camp in north Snohomish County. Selling 300 boxes helps campers pay for a week there.
Anyone who’d rather abstain from sugary treats can make a donation to ship candy to U.S. troops overseas.
The annual sale is about more than raising money.
Children also gain self-esteem and build skills holding conversations with adults, candy sale manager Meagan Farrell said.
“A lot of the adults will stop and ask them questions,” Farrell said.
They can face adversity, beyond the winter weather or building confidence.
A year ago, Nattalie Anderson had a jar with $85 stolen outside a Mill Creek grocery store.
The setback didn’t deter her. Between sales and donations, she had more than enough to pay for camp.
“She took the rest of the donations and put it into a scholarship so that other kids could attend camp,” stepmother Maria Anderson said.
The 12-year-old from south Everett is back at it this year. She’s been the area’s top seller in the past.
“Yesterday was a six-hour day outside,” her stepmom said Sunday. “We had to cut her days back. It really depends on the weekends.”
Outside Donna’s truck stop, Annabelle hopped around in purple rain boots to release pent-up energy during lulls in traffic.
“It’s a loud place for a little girl,” said mother Michelle Middendorf as she kept watch.
It’s already Annabelle’s fourth year in Camp Fire. The youngster from Lake Stevens sold more than 400 boxes of candy last year.
“This is her first year really handling the money,” Middendorf said, “so she’s working on her math skills.”
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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Call Camp Fire Snohomish County at 425-258-5437 or go to www.campfiresnoco.org.
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