Mikayla's Journey Fundraiser HUGE Success!!

When a group of Crystal Springs Elementary families came together at the request of second grade teacher, Jane Weiss, to help the family of Mikayla Bassett, they had a humble goal of raising enough funds to pay for a first and last month's rent to get the Bassett family back into a home in the Bothell area.

The family was homeless after spending several months living in the Ronald McDonald House while their daughter battled leukemia. Mikayla succumbed to her disease on January 26. The family had exhausted all their financial resources fighting her disease.

The committee of volunteers planned the Mikayla's Journey Community Rummage Sale Fundraiser held Saturday, February 16, in the Crystal Springs gym. When word got out that donations were being sought for the sale, the Northshore community opened their closets and gave -- until the gym was overflowing, the breezeway outside the gym was lined with furniture, and the covered basketball court was filled with items for sale. 

The sale organizing committee was overwhelmed, not only by the community's generosity, but by the sheer daunting task of organizing the donated goods. Many volunteers' hands made quick work of sorting and pricing the items before the doors opened Saturday morning. 

And, then they came. A steady stream of customers shopped throughout the all-day sale. Not only did they buy items, they often told the cashiers to "keep the change." What wasn't sold was donated to Helping Hands Thrift Store and Deseret Industries. 

Mike and Rea Bassett, and their three children, were overcome with emotion when the committee announced that over $17,000 had been raised from the sale and donations. Hugs and tears and kleenex were in abundance as the last of the volunteers stood in the empty gym Saturday evening. 

Not only did the Northshore community embrace the Bassett family as one in their "village," they showed that a village can also help heal a family.