Young Girl raises money for Safe Haven - KOAM TV 7

Homelessness is a growing problem throughout the country and here in the four-states is no exception. Studies show in Labette County Kansas 69 people do not have a roof over their head any given night. A statistic that moved one young girl to want to make a difference at the homeless shelter in her area.  

Maggie Billman isn't your typical 11 year old.

She is making earrings to sell to family, friends and neighbors hoping to raise money for Safe Haven Outreach Mission, a homeless shelter she saw on a field trip two years ago.

"The time I visited there were like 2 and 3 years old there and I wanted to help them and I felt like I knew I could do something because everybody has a talent and everybody can do something to help" says Billman.

With earring sales, and donations Billman has raised more than $3,000 the past two years for Safe Haven.

"I got to thinking you know you hardly ever see homeless people in Labette county and 69 people that's a lot of people and just taking 8 or 9 or however many away that helps a lot" says Billman.

Founder and Director of the shelter, Melissa Brown agrees.

Brown says Maggie's donation helps meet the needs of the 8 people the shelter can house and takes a burden off the budget. But Brown also says there are still so many left without a roof over their head.

"Its hard its hard to turn people away because I want to help them all I need a bigger facility I really do but the ones that are there can stay 60 to 90 days and we want to meet their basic human needs as well as their spiritual needs" says Melissa Brown, founder of the Safe Haven Outreach Mission.

As Billman collects the money she will soon be handing over to the shelter, she hopes others realize that even the smallest efforts can make a big difference.

"Anybody can do anything they set their mind to it" says Billman.

Billman plans to give her donation to Safe Haven before Christmas Eve.

http://www.safehavenoutreach.com/