EDMONDS — When Hailey Trumble was in seventh grade at Madrona School, she organized a clothing drive to earn the community service credits she needed.
The teen had so much fun with the drive, she has done it every year since. She is now a junior at Edmonds-Woodway High School and lives with her parents in Richmond Beach.
The monthlong clothing drive is called “Keep out the Cold” and runs through Nov. 15. Hailey, who is 16, collects new and gently used coats, hats, mittens and scarves, blankets and sleeping bags — items to keep out the cold. Donations go to Clothes for Kids, which provides free wardrobes to Snohomish County’s children, and Pathways for Women, a housing program in Lynnwood run by the YWCA.
A local car dealership loaned Hailey a Volkswagen Beetle to stuff with donations. The car is set up outside Ordinary Things, Shannon Trumble’s consignment store in downtown Edmonds. She is Hailey’s mom.
“I always tried to teach my children to give,” Trumble said. “It’s something you always hope your kids feel — compassion for other people.”
Hailey’s older sisters, Amanda and Amie, and older brother, Brandon, all live in Western Washington.
On the crisp afternoon that ushered in Halloween night, the Beetle was almost filled with warm clothes. Hailey had carved letters in six pumpkins, which when placed together formed the word “donate.”
Her goal is 1,800 garments. She collected just more than half that amount last year.
“It’s fun,” she said. “You always want to see how much more you can get.”
In September, Hailey put on a costume drive for Halloween and got about 60 costumes. Someone even brought a handmade Christmas tree and sheep costumes.
She has other ideas. For example, collecting broken Christmas lights strings to help raise money to pay for cancer treatments. The organization that takes the lights strips and resells the copper.
In addition to helping at her mom’s store, Hailey works as a sterilizing technician at a dental office three times a week after school.
Cynthia Accetturo is a dental assistant there.
“I’m really proud of her,” Accetturo said. “She’s a really good worker.”
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Get involved
Bring new or gently used outerwear or blankets to Ordinary Things, 610 Fifth Ave. S., Edmonds, through Nov. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
If your organization or ministry could use Hailey’s help with a clothing or food drive, call the store at 425-776-4912.
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