Woman’s Club to host first major fundraiser

Rosemary Trout doesn’t know the name of the boy who promised to rally the neighborhood to help her after her club’s headquarters burned down last year.

All she knows is that he more than delivered on his promise.

Shortly after a fire consumed the century-old home of the Woman’s Club of Huntington Beach, Trout ran into a woman who lived on her block and told her what had happened. The neighbor’s son asked what Trout planned to do, and she said the group would have to start raising funds.

The boy, whom Trout estimated was about 9 years old, vowed to go door to door and encourage neighbors to donate. And then the boxes began to arrive.

Sometimes, neighbors drove up to Trout’s house when she was there to leave off clothes, dishes, toys, glassware, stuffed animals and everything in between. Other times, she opened the door and found an anonymous package waiting for her.

Now, Trout is ready to unload her bounty. Saturday morning, the Woman’s Club will host its first major fundraiser in the carport behind her Huntington Beach home.

“It’s a neighborhood project,” Trout said Friday as she sorted through an array of toys, suitcases and garments outside her home. “They’ve just come in from all over.”

Even if the fundraiser proves to be a success, the woman’s club will still have a ways to go before it gathers enough funds for a new facility.

Trout said the group is working with an architect on plans for its new permanent home and hasn’t yet determined what construction will cost.

As a result, Trout plans to make the yard sale a monthly event, at least into the fall. And she’s quick to note that even if passersby don’t care for any of the merchandise, they can make monetary donations to the nonprofit club.

Trout said some people have already offered to contribute funds, which was a welcome relief after many dry months.

“I tell you, after the fire, no one offered anything,” she said. “I got so despondent. But after all this time, we’re getting some help. Maybe we’ll be able to rebuild after all.”

michael.miller@latimes.com

Twitter: @MichaelMillerHB

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If You Go

What: Yard sale to benefit the Woman’s Club of Huntington Beach

Where: 8491 Lomond Drive, Huntington Beach

When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Information: (714) 960-0188