Shred Event raises big money for school supplies

More than $9,000 raised to help Boys Girls Club purchase school supplies

By Conor Dowley • August 28, 2019 1:30 am
From left to right, Stephany Shackelford, James Castell, Malachi Williams, Phil Castell, Saul Williams, Kelsey Sands, Andrea Wellman and Christy Francis stand in the Castell Insurance office on Aug. 24 after their annual shred event concluded as the Williams brothers hold the money raised. The fundraiser that supports the Boys & Girls Club and their efforts to provide school supplies to students and families in need raised over $9,000 this year. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley
From left to right, Stephany Shackelford, James Castell, Malachi Williams, Phil Castell, Saul Williams, Kelsey Sands, Andrea Wellman and Christy Francis stand in the Castell Insurance office on Aug. 24 after their annual shred event concluded as the Williams brothers hold the money raised. The fundraiser that supports the Boys & Girls Club and their efforts to provide school supplies to students and families in need raised over $9,000 this year. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley

Shred Event raises big money for supplies

Castell Insurance held its annual community shred event on Aug. 24 and saw a huge turnout — as well as a record fundraising effort — for the Boys & Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula’s school supply drive.

“Our current total for donations to the club is $9,075, plus the roughly $300 worth of (school) supplies collected,” James Castell.

“The turnout was fantastic, and we’re so happy to be able to help the (Boys & Girls Club) like this,” Phil Castell said after the event.

According to the Castells, this was their fifth year working with the Boys & Girls Club as part of the community shred event.

“The event was already a success, but we wanted it to do a little more,” James Castell said. That partnership has been a success so far for the community, with more than $20,000 raised to help purchase school supplies for families in need before last weekend’s event.

A common feature of the shred events the past few years has been a pair of Boys & Girls Club members — brothers Saul and Malachi Williams.

“When they first showed up, they were a lot smaller than they are now,” joked Phil Castell during the event.

The brothers are frequent sights at Boys & Girls Club community service events, and Malachi even gave up an opportunity to go to a football camp in town featuring ex-Seattle Seahawk lineman Wayne Hunter.

“My mom’s always told me that commitments are important. I wanted to go to the camp, but I made a commitment to be here,” Malachi said.

Saul was greeted with a lot of smiles and laughter as Castell staff and family volunteering for the event recalled his appearance last year, with a cast on each arm thanks to breaking both wrists in a bicycle accident earlier in the summer. He didn’t let that slow him down, though.

“Even with two casts, he was still hauling boxes all over,” Phil Castell said.

While the Castell staff doesn’t keep track of how many people show up to the shred event, they saw enough material dropped off to almost completely fill two shredding trucks with a capacity of 10,000 pounds each.

One local businessman who asked to be unidentified dropped off about 80 boxes of materials to shred — and a $1,000 check.

“It’s amazing seeing how people step up to help each other when they’re given the chance to,” James Castell said.

“It’s extraordinary to see people coming forward to help like this,” said Mary Budke, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.

“Keeping up with the volume of school supplies needed in our schools is critical, and events like this help so much,” she said.

Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club member Saul Williams climbs out of one of the Olympic Disposal recycling containers at the Castell Insurance community shred event on Aug. 24 after stamping down the pile of cardboard inside it to make room for more. Williams and his brother Malachi have helped the shred event for the last four years, with Saul making a memorable appearance in 2018 when he helped all morning despite having casts on both arms thanks breaking both wrists earlier in the summer. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley

Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club member Saul Williams climbs out of one of the Olympic Disposal recycling containers at the Castell Insurance community shred event on Aug. 24 after stamping down the pile of cardboard inside it to make room for more. Williams and his brother Malachi have helped the shred event for the last four years, with Saul making a memorable appearance in 2018 when he helped all morning despite having casts on both arms thanks breaking both wrists earlier in the summer. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley

James Castell, right, works with other Castell Insurance staff and family members at the community shred event on Aug. 24. “This event has definitely become a highlight of the year,” Castell said. “It’s a lot of work, but it helps people who need their documents safely destroyed, and it helps a great organization (the Boys & Girls Club).” Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley

James Castell, right, works with other Castell Insurance staff and family members at the community shred event on Aug. 24. “This event has definitely become a highlight of the year,” Castell said. “It’s a lot of work, but it helps people who need their documents safely destroyed, and it helps a great organization (the Boys & Girls Club).” Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley