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"Charity Garage Sale"
Elizabeth Stitt
Weber High School, Class of 2004
Brigham Young University, Class of 2008
For the past five years, I have organized a Charity Garage Sale. It was started in July of 1999 shortly after a seven year old, Elisabeth Hillstrom, in my neighborhood passed away from an inoperable brain tumor. She was the inspiration for this project. Before she passed away, she was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah. She received her horse, Carrots, a corral, and hay for a year to feed
the horse. Elisabeth had been a sweet little girl, and I felt a need to repay in some way the Make-A-Wish for brightening her life when things seemed the darkest. Thus, an idea was born that has since benefited the community in many ways. It began as a Kids’ Garage Sale for children to come and buy cheap toys and clothing. I sent around fliers and had local families donate items to sell. $225 was raised for Make-A-Wish that year. Gradually, it grew bigger. In January of 2000, another neighbor had a baby boy, Jacob Broderick, with Trisomy 18. He was born prematurely and only lived for seven hours. The hospital gave the family a little ring the size of Jacob’s finger. They were also given a memory box with his footprint and other memorabilia. In the short time he lived, I was able to hold Jacob, and the next year for the Sale, I felt a need to support the local hospitals that made that memory possible.
That year $450 was made for Make-A-Wish and the two local hospitals’ infant bereavement foundations. More families found out about the Sale, and they saved up their items for the next year. Two years ago, I expanded the sale to include any items. $900 was raised with 35 families donating items. Last year I advertised in the paper, and the response was overwhelming with donations from over 70 families. We had so many items that the sale was extended over Friday and Saturday. $2500 was raised that year.
This year, as I began to organize the sale once again, our neighborhood experienced another infant passing. Mckena Burton was born in March of 2003, full term, but with many problems and birth defects. She passed away about six hours after her birth. The hospital also ensured that the family had many items and a blanket to keep to remember their infant daughter.
Over the two-day sale this year, we were able to raise $3150 for the three charities and over 90 families participated.
This sale has helped me feel closer to my community. I have become closer to the families of the children who passed on. Other families are touched by the stories of the two children and have donated every year. This Sale brings peace to the families and everyone who helps. It is a uniting factor that is looked forward to every year with much excitement. The reason that makes this successful is that the whole community has shown their commitment to help those in need. It’s a win-win-win situation. People can donate their old items, everyone that comes to the garage sale benefits, and last of all, the donations bless the three charities. The money enables these three great organizations to help other families remember their children. And that is what I cherish most.
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Stitt is a senior at Weber High School in Ogden, Utah. She loves reading Tolkien, Rowlings, and Hinckley literature. She loves the outdoors and enjoys
hunting, hiking, camping, and fishing. She can be found snow or water skiing, writing newspaper articles, or curled up reading a book. She loves to serve others whenever she can.
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