Neighbors Chandler Templeton, Kennedy Strehl, Aven Mulligan, and Sophia Robertson are 4th- and 5th-grade students at Meadow Lands Elementary School. For the second time, they are proving they can have a positive impact on their community with their efforts to raise money for the homeless.
Over the weekend, they raised more than $8,000 for My Sister’s Keeper, a shelter in Owensboro.
In December 2020, the four students decided to stand on their street with signs that said “Help the Homeless.” Their success raising $2,800 the first year has led them to where they are today.
This year, the girls chose My Sister’s Keeper Women’s and Children’s Homeless Shelter to be the recipient of all the proceeds from the annual fundraiser. Chandler’s mom Blake Templeton is the treasurer for My Sister’s Keeper board, and the girls have been excited in watching the progress of getting the shelter open, knowing how many women and children will be touched by their generosity.
Looking back on 2020, during the height of Covid, Blake Templeton said the girls’ parents were inspired to see what their children initiated.
“At that time all of us moms were working from home and had no idea what they were doing, just thought they were playing,” Templeton said. “They ran in so excited after a few hours that they had already made $70, and all of us moms were shocked and encouraged them to do it again the next day. The second day they had over $200, so that is when all of us moms chipped in and made hot chocolate, shared on social media, and the next thing we knew the girls had raised $2,800.”
In 2020, the money raised was divided equally between St. Benedicts Homeless Shelter and Meadow Lands Elementary School (with each receiving $1,400).
This year, local businesses German American Bank, Federated Insurance, and Palliative Care and Hospice of Western Kentucky all did matches of varying amounts to help the girls raise money.
Colby Grayson, a member of the Owensboro Fire Department and neighbor to the girls, also temporarily donated his small shed and delivered it to the driveway to ensure the girls had a dry space to run their fundraiser all weekend, rain or shine.
“So many individuals, family, friends, and businesses donated by either driving by the house and giving money or through our Venmo (@mysisterskeeper270). They were greeted with enthusiastic girls that offered hot chocolate, candy canes, Christmas music, and big smiles,” Templeton said.
On the final day of their fundraising endeavors, My Sister’s Keeper Executive Director Angel Welsh called the girls and let them know that they had a fourth local business owner who was willing to match their entire amount for the whole fundraiser.
Plenty of cheers and happy tears ensued.
With the girls raising just over $4,100 and the final match doubling their efforts, they will be able to write a check to the shelter for over $8,200.
“Our hearts are so full and there are not enough thank you’s to every single person whether they offered a wave and a smile, donated time, or contributed money to the fundraiser,” Templeton said. “The girls are so appreciative to everyone.”
