Gadget drive to raise funds for autistic children

Local Wahkiakum High School senior Madeline Rooklidge is organizing an online gadget drive through Gazelle to raise money for Family House Academy, located in Longview.

A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns used electronics such as laptops, cell phones, mP3 players and digital cameras into cash to support a cause.

Those wishing to contribute to the drive may go to Rooklidge's website at http://educationinspiration.gazelle.com, find the value of the gadgets to be donated and send them to Gazelle. Shipping is free.

The value will go to create a separate fund for the children with autism who attend Family House Academy, to provide educational and therapeutic opportunities that would otherwise be too expensive.

Autism is often wrongly considered a rare occurrence, yet one in every 150 children are diagnosed with the condition every year. Rooklidge was inspired to try and help the young children of all ages with autism at Family House Academy because her cousin attends the school and she has watched him grow into a loving boy despite his struggles with autism.

The drive ends on October 31.