CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – YAIPak Outreach in Clarksville has received close to 10,000 toys, games, books and other items from 7-year-old Hope Hensley of Nashville.

Hope Hensley had just celebrated her birthday a few days before, and she has her own pageant support platform, Helping Others Prepare for Excellence, or H.O.P.E.

Seven-year-old Hope Hensley with some of the thousands of toys, books, and other items she donated to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Kate Hensley)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps sort children’s clothing at YAIPak Outreach after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley, who donated thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley and Kate Hensley at the donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items for YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley and Founder of YAIPak Outreach Sherry Nicholson at the donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items for YAIPak on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps unload after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A volunteer and Kate Hensley hels unload Hope Hensley’s donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps unload after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley’s donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps unload after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley’s donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley’s donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley’s donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps unload after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items to YAIPak Outreach on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley meets with volunteers at YAIPak Outreach after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Seven-year-old Hope Hensley helps sort children’s clothing at YAIPak Outreach after making a donation of thousands of toys, books, and other items on Mar. 1, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

“I wanted to give my toys away because I really didn’t need them,” Hope said.

Hope said she collects things to donate from her neighbors, dance, tumbling and pageant friends, and said it was important to her because she wanted to help others. Along with her community work, Hope also participates in pageants. She holds the title Ideal Miss Historic Tennessee Princess.

Her mother, Kate Hensley, said Hope has collected snacks for Ronald McDonald House, shoes for Soles4Souls, and clothing for the Nashville Rescue Mission. She has also collected and donated food, blankets and cat litter for the Nashville Humane Society and the Williamson County Animal Center.

“As her mother, I feel blessed to see her loving and caring attitude toward others. She truly wants to share with other people and to help animals as well. We are very proud of her,” Henlsey said.

Sherry Nicholson, founder and president of YAIPak Outreach, said the toys will go to foster children who are in trauma.

“We’re going to make sure that each child has something that is age-appropriate, and they’re going to either have a really fantastic book to read or a toy,” Nicholson said.