Kari Cassida always had piles of stuff everywhere. They were the projects she never quite finished.

The Stanwood woman knows about clutter. She grew up in it, always lived with it.

The clutter didn’t really bother Cassida unless people came to her house. Then she would be embarrassed.

But her house wasn’t as bad as her garage. Things had piled up there taller than herself and she had created a small walkway through. She did that three times.

Then last year Cassida, 46, checked out Clutterers Anonymous, a national 12-step program that helps people to eliminate clutter and bring order to their lives.

When she discovered there was no local chapter of CLA, Cassida decided to form one.

The local group, the only one in the state, meets in Everett from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays, except for the second Monday of the month.

“It’s an open meeting for anybody,” Cassida said. “Even people who are just going along for the ride.”

Cassida said her husband inspired her to clean up.

“He is a clean freak,” she said.

He loves everything put away in its proper place. With his help Cassida was able to eliminate many of her possessions. She always had reasons why she should hang onto things, like all her kids’ school papers. She had boxes of them as well as trophies and awards that she had won in grade school and high school.

Cassida learned a new way to keep some of her favorite things: She photographs them so that she can still enjoy them but gets rid of the actual item.

“It works great for big things,” she said, such as her wedding dress.

Like Alcoholics Anonymous and similar programs, CLA is a 12-step program. Members meet to talk about their experiences. They introduce themselves and share their challenges. There are readings and a closing prayer.

“Everything that is said and seen at the meeting stays at the meeting,” Cassida said.

CLA members talk about the things that are cluttering their lives and about mental clutter, “Like always running late and a million things on your to-do list and you never seem to do them,” Cassida said.

Cassida believes that some people live with clutter all their lives and others go through phases where they have temporary clutter.

“Part of it is an obsessive behavior pattern like overeaters or debtors anonymous,” Cassida said, “or people that overspend.”

Like many people Cassida has hardly missed anything she’s thrown away. When she looks at the big picture it’s a lot easier to find what she needs. “Keep things you use,” Cassida said. “Get rid of things you couldn’t find even if you wanted to.”

Cassida admits she’s not completely clutter-free and feels her problem is ongoing, but she tells those who attend the meetings how good it feels to be doing something.

“Freedom from clutter,” she said. “It’s a really good feeling.”

Clutterers Anonymous

The Everett Chapter of Clutterers Anonymous meets from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. the first, third and fourth Mondays of the month at 1906 Grand Ave., Everett. For information on the local chapter call 425-350-0699. To learn more about the national group, go to www.clutterers anonymous.net.