First grader fundraises for windows of Habitat houses in Kentucky

Kentucky first-grader Ellie Rue has written and illustrated a book that has raised enough money to buy windows for two new Habitat houses in her neighborhood.

Virginia Braswell, executive director of Habitat Owensboro-Daviess County, explains how it all started:

“Julia Boling, a kindergarten teacher at Deer Park Elementary, contacted our office and said her school was doing a unit on shelter. She wondered if they could come see a Habitat house and bring the kids. We closed down construction so there wouldn’t be any safety issues, and here came the school buses, and 90 kids tumbled out.

“They were so excited. Most children have not seen a house being built. Most adults, even.

“Ellie Rue was in Ms. Boling’s class, and she sat down and wrote a book. Her mom and dad printed off 40 copies, stapled them together and took them around for donations.

“A printer here in town wanted to help, so he printed about 2,500 and made up donation jars, and I delivered them all over town. After the newspaper wrote an article about it, another community member wrote a check, and now we have almost 3,000. It’ll be enough to do windows for two houses.”