More than 100 people braved the 10-degree morning temperatures and when the doors opened at 9 a.m., they rushed into the warm Career Education Building and got busy collecting donated items that included clothes, shoes, housewares and even a large potted tree collected during the past month by Iowa Central students, staff and educators.

There was no cash register though, and the gift wrapping was free.

Emily Fortner, of Humboldt, spotted a treasure in the housewares.

“Oooh,” she said. “They have a monkey bowl. This is actually for my sister; I’m just looking for myself.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Participants in the 18th Share What You Wear event at Iowa Central look through clothing items Saturday morning in the Career Education Building.

Like many of those attending, the donated items help stretch tight holiday budgets for families and individuals.

Cheyannes Valentine, of Fort Dodge, was among those.

“I come here every year and it does help,” she said.

She had found a treasure that she was wearing around her neck, a long toy caterpillar that proved less than the ideal neck pillow.

“It’s hurting my neck,” she said. “It’s for my sister.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Participants in the 18th Share What You Wear event at Iowa Central make their way into the Career Education Building Saturday morning. More than 100 people were waiting outside for the doors to open at 9 a.m.

Iowa Central instructor Liz Dent, of Humboldt, spent the day gift wrapping with her daughter Evelyn Dent, 7.

“I’ve heard a lot from my fellow instructors what an opportunity to share this is. I wanted to give back. It’s a great chance to give back to the community.” Liz Dent said.

Her talent for gift wrapping was on full display.

“I give myself an eight out of 10,” she said. “I love to do it. This is a good station for me.”

Evelyn Dent rates her talents high too.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Emily Fortner, of Humboldt, found a monkey jar Saturday morning at the 18th annual Share What You Wear event at Iowa Central. Her nephew Chandler Fogelman, 5, came along. No word on if anyone took the Packers cheesehead hats.

“Me too,” she said of her ability being eight out of 10.

Her favorites.

“I like to wrap small things.” Evelyn Dent said.

Students from the Iowa Central Dental Hygiene program were also on hand. They handed out toothpaste, and brushes.

Kelly “Tooth Fairy” Boleyn, a second-year student, was in, well, the Tooth Fairy costume.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Cheyann Velentine, of Fort Dodge, is all smiles after finding a caterpillar pillow for her sister during the 18th annual Share What You Wear event at Iowa Central.

“I just volunteered,” she said. “It’s fun to see all the kids. They’re polite and they like to show me their smiles and they like the wand.”

Mark Wastun, of Humboldt, got to carry the potted tree out.

“I’m carrying it for someone else,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The 18th Share What You Wear event had something for everyone, including this tree that Mark Wastun, of Humboldt, was carrying for a friend.