ARLINGTON — Open Door Theatre, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is staging a garage sale starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, in the parking lot of Pioneer Elementary in Arlington, located at 8213 Eaglefield Dr., just west of Highway 9, at the entrance to the Gleneagle housing development. The semi-annual homeowners association garage sale at Gleneagle will be underway on that same day.
Open Door Theatre’s Board of Directors and friends are hosting the multi-family garage sale and invite the surrounding community to come and hunt for a wide selection of bargains. Hot dogs and drinks will also be sold. Proceeds from the garage sale will be used to help cover the Theatre’s costs of bringing personal safety performances to elementary schools throughout the Arlington, Lakewood, Marysville and other Snohomish County school districts this coming year.
ODT has not hosted a garage sale since the 1980s, when it was founded, but tough economic times have reduced the number and value of available grants from government and private foundations, along with individual donations. School and district budgets that have long supported the personal safety performances have also decreased along with the economy, but the ODT Board of Directors believes that supporting data indicates the need remains strong to teach important safety skills to children, so they’re rolling up their sleeves, creatively, to raise money for safety.
Open Door Theatre’s mission is to free children from abuse and violence by teaching personal safety skills using live dramatic theatre. A team of professional actors interacts with students in grade levels between kindergarten and fifth grade, as these children learn assertive skills that can be used in bullying situations on the playground or to keep themselves safe if confronted with someone who wants to touch them inappropriately. Teachers, counselors and principals are on hand during the lively, one-hour performances that are designed to be both empowering and age-appropriate.
Thousands of children have attended ODT performances over the years and learned how to stand tall, look someone in the eye, and say, “No,” in a loud and clear voice, along with other important skills.
On Sept. 17, the ODT Board, staff and cast members will be on hand to chat with customers hunting for garage sale bargains. Open Door Theatre welcomes the public to donate items for the sale as well. Donations can be dropped off the day of the sale as early as 7 a.m., while shoppers are welcome from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please call 425-303-8783 by noon on Thursday, Sept. 15, if you have any questions or if you would like to donate items to be sold.
If you cannot attend the garage sale but want to support Open Door Theatre, you may donate your time to support future fundraising events or mail your tax-deductible donation to Open Door Theatre at 135 S. French Ave. in Arlington, WA 98223. This financial support will be used to fund this season’s performances.
