When Chelsea Boren’s freckled face breaks into a smile and she shyly twists her auburn hair, she’s every bit a 15-year-old.
But when the volunteer fundraiser dynamo speaks passionately about the Cocoon House shelter for teens, you might as well be listening to someone twice her age.
“Cocoon House is the only shelter for homeless teens in Snohomish County,” she said. “These are kids my age, and hearing their stories is touching.
“Cocoon House is not just a place for them to eat and sleep. It’s their foundation. It’s not just a house, it’s a home.”
Chelsea, a Lake Stevens High School sophomore, recently received the Award for Outstanding Youth Service from Cocoon House. During the past year, Chelsea was instrumental in raising thousands of dollars and gathering carloads of food for the Everett shelter.
Cassie Koehn and Robin Weinberg, the development team at Cocoon House, along with executive director Lee Trevithick, praise Chelsea for the way she touches the hearts of those in her school and community and gets others excited about helping out.
“Her genuine enthusiasm is contagious,” Koehn said.
At school, Chelsea is a good student, plays tennis and is involved with student government and Key Club. She also shows her Doberman pinschers, Dancer and Annabelle, at 4-H and American Kennel Club dog shows. She wants to be a lawyer and hopes to attend Stanford University or the University of California at Berkeley.
“I am a lucky girl. I am taking a lot and I have a lot to give,” she said.
In her freshman year, Chelsea sought a volunteer project that would last through high school. She did her research and made a call to Cocoon House.
“They were so willing to work with me. They trusted me, and lots of adults don’t trust teenagers at all,” she said. “I am so thankful they let me volunteer. I really have fun.”
Because one has to be at least 21 to volunteer at Cocoon House shelters, Weinberg and Koehn suggested Chelsea collect donations.
Her first campaign was to have a portion of a food drive at school go to Cocoon House. The result: Hundreds of pounds of food filled the pantries at Cocoon House in time for Thanksgiving.
That was just the start. During the past year, Chelsea has:
* Solicited donations for the organization while sitting at the Everett YMCA and talking about Cocoon House.
* Wrapped holiday gifts to buy gift cards for Cocoon teens.
* Collected and delivered Valentines, sweets and hygiene supplies for teens.
* Recruited and coordinated volunteers at Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” fundraiser.
* Conducted a raffle at an Everett AquaSox game.
* Organized a team to help at a fun run in Arlington that benefited Cocoon House.
* And organized a team of Key Club members to serve at the Cocoon House’s recent “An Evening in Silk” fundraising event.
Chelsea praises her fellow Key Club members and others at school for doing a lot of the work. Those include Daniella Pena, Rachel Zeltner, Christin Gianola, Amelia Dickson, Heather Noon, Kayla Evans and Elijah O’Hearn. It also includes the Honor Society, Leadership Class and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
Her parents, Corrinne Minnard and Al Boren, have been an important part of the volunteer effort as well.
“My parents raised me well. They’ve done a good job and been willing to support me (in volunteering) with their time, money and transportation,” Chelsea said.
While collecting donations at the YMCA last year, Chelsea ran into a woman whose generosity affirmed her decision to make volunteering an important part of her life.
She asked the woman if she would donate to Cocoon House. The woman explained that she was a victim of abuse and was homeless. Nevertheless, the woman donated $10 to the cause.
“Lots of attorneys and businessmen gave much less,” Chelsea said.
“I wish I knew her name because she inspired me and affected the course of my life,” Chelsea said. “I will never forget that. And even when I am a lawyer in California, I’ll be writing checks to Cocoon House.”
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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