Gems! Treasures! Deals! Sammamish Residents Help Creekside Students Attend Camp by Shopping at Garage Sale

Fifth grade students at are off to a better financial footing to attend camp in May - thanks to a 100-family garage sale parents held Saturday in the gym.

The school's PTSA sponsored the event, which featured books, clothing, a bicycle, dishes, toys, sports equipment and shoes piled on more than 30 tables. Families from the school donated the items to help support about 300 fifth grade students attend Camp Colman, near Gig Harbor, parents said.

"It's a celebration before they go to middle school," Karyl Breedlove, a parent and one of the organizers said. "We're just happy with the amount of things we got."

She pointed out that parent Carol Stamper, another organizer, should be publicly thanked for her work on the sale, which hopefully will raise $3,000 to $5,000.  

By 8:20 a.m., items were already flying, as the saying goes, off the shelves.

A woman carried a green carpet with circle and oval patterns in the parking lot - and proudly noted that it cost $15. It could easily have sold for over $100 at a store.

Sammamish resident Blake Pavilch, 45, showed up with wife and daughter. He and his daughter, who attends Creekside, walked to a check-out desk with a hamster cage.

The price? Pavilch wasn't certain. "I think we can afford it," he said with a smile.

Games sold for $3 per piece. Shoppers could walk away with a DVD for a $1. One paperback book cost 25 cents.

There was a snowboard for $10 and new skis for $20. A hand-written sign noted that one shoe cost $1.

A black microwave oven priced for $10 caught the attention of a few shoppers. Finally, a man picked it up and carried it over to a check-out table.

"Does it say $10?" he said.

"Yes," the volunteer clerk replied.

"Great, then we're both happy."

There were some old-school items, such as a plastic "Flip & Learn Alphabet" game which was not computer or battery operated. As one mom's two sons inspected it, she reminded them of an earlier era.

"This was before computer stuff, guys," she said.

Fifth grade student Katarina Peatross, 11, showed up with her parents and is grateful of the support to attend Camp Colman.

"I'm excited to do rock climbing and other fun stuff," she said.

Students will get to sleep in cabins and participate in canoe trips and arts and crafts. "It's a big deal," Breedlove said.

Breedlove appreciated families pitching in to help students before they leave the elementary school. "It's just everybody getting together to help out," she said.

What about the leftovers?

A truck from Goodwill, Breedlove said, was going to swing by in the afternoon to collect the items that were not sold.