For about three decades, Sherrill Taylor has been helping people with their costuming needs.

From community theater groups to local high school productions, she and her Redmond store Pacific Northwest Costume — which closed in fall 2014 — have been giving people the opportunity to dress up to their hearts’ content.

The Kirkland resident’s contributions have become so well known locally that when news spread that she and her husband had fallen on hard times — losing everything they had in a fire that burned down their condo as well as some of their neighbors’ condos — student members of the Redmond High School (RHS) drama department did not hesitate to figure out how they could help.

Sophomore Ember Johnston and junior Erich Schleck are organizing a benefit concert featuring RHS students of all grades.

The concert will be from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday at the Old Fire House Teen Center, 16510 N.E. 79th St. Admission will be $10. In addition, there will be raffle tickets for various prizes. The proceeds will go toward helping Taylor and her husband get back on their feet.

The fire that destroyed the Taylors’ condo occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on March 14 and the cause is still under investigation. The couple had been living there for 22 years.

“It’s sad,” Taylor said, adding that they are currently in temporary housing in another apartment complex in Kirkland.

The fire destroyed everything, she said, including a couple of sewing machines she had used to create costumes for years.

“That wasn’t fun,” Sherrill admitted.

When asked why the RHS drama department wanted to support Taylor, Johnston said, “She’s been a huge supporter of theater and the arts…She’s been very involved in the theater community, especially the youth theater community…We want to raise as much (money) as we can.”

When Taylor learned about what the students were planning, she was touched.

“It’s just really sweet,” she said about the gesture, adding that she will be in attendance. “I cried. It choked me up big time.”

Taylor added that too many young people nowadays tend to be a bit self absorbed. So to see these students going out of their way to help someone they don’t personally know that well is extraordinary.

Taylor’s husband Glenn Taylor agreed. He said it is extremely nice of the students to be doing this for them, but he admits to not being too surprised as Sherrill has always done so much for so many people.

And while they have not worked as closely with Sherrill as previous RHS drama students, Schleck is aware of the role she has played in helping build the department. He said the contributions she has made have been invaluable — and he is not the only one who recognizes this.

He and Johnston added that while they are organizing — and hosting — the show, many students are getting involved. In addition to the 12 acts — who will be performing songs from various genres of music to go with the show’s “New Beginnings” theme — many students have volunteered to take on various roles for the event such as helping sell raffle tickets, donating artwork for the raffle and more.

“It’s good to keep in mind who’s been helping you,” Johnston said about the significance of the students’ involvement.