She notices while her son, was going through treatment that many patients and their families there to support them were cold.

So she has been putting a box out for donations of blankets, hats, scarves and more at her business at Magic Shears in Arlington.

Along with helping others, she is paying it forward because when son Cameron became sick he was 26 and had no insurance, and the town rallied to support him. Cameron graduated from Arlington High School in 1996. He was a 6-foot, 200-pound football player.

“He was well-loved,” Howell said of her son, adding there are seven babies in town named after him.

His mom said when he first because sick they thought it was a canker sore. But he died of the rare type of mouth cancer within 18 months.

While he was getting treatment, Howell found out there was nothing for him or his supporters to do. So along with warm items, she likes to also collect puzzles, games and books. Donated clothes need to be new, but other items can be slightly used.

Donated items are given to Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington and the cancer center in Smokey Point at Christmas. She used to donate the items to the Fred Hutchison center in Seattle, but that she likes helping locals better.

Those are the people who have been her customers for 35 years.

“They’re like a second family,” Howell said. “We’ve lost a lot of customers to cancer.”

Donations are being collected through Dec. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends at Magic Shears, 306 N. Olympic.