Archive: Around Town

Thomas Yard SaleWith so much bad news about Hurricane Katrina victims in the news every day, you can't help but want to do something to help.  This impulse isn't limited to adults, and kids are doing something about it.  Neila (12) and Kelsey (10) Thomas and their friend Erin Bell (10) decided to have a garage sale on Saturday (9/17) and donate the proceeds to the Red Cross.

"They were very concerned and they still are, and they're very caring and they felt compelled to do something," says Patricia Thomas, Neila and Kelsey's Mom.  "It was their idea to raise money for the hurricane victims.  That first week was just so horrible, and they said that they needed to do something.  In a week and a half's time they put all this together."

The girls put it all together, soliciting items from neighbors, sorting, pricing, baking and making signs.  The sale included puzzles and toys, bicycles, clothes, things for dogs, books, household items and games.  The girls donated items of their own as well as collecting from neighbors.  Six families, four from their neighborhood, donated items for the sale.

The weather threatened, but didn't actually rain.  Mrs.. Thomas said that putting some items outside helped to draw people into the sale.  "We've had a steady stream," she said, about halfway through the morning.

Mrs. Thomas chose the Red Cross because she knows it is a legitimate organization, and because she and her daughters have contributed to them before.  "I knew them, because the girls made cookies and sold them to neighbors.  They were in the first and third grade at the time, and we collected donations and went to the Red Cross, because it is a reputable foundation that's been around forever."

She said that anything that didn't sell would be donated to organizations that support hurricane victims.  But so far things were selling well.  They even sold a hot tub.

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