Thursday, March 29, 2012

7-Year Old Hero

Unlike most Billy Johnson Community Heroes, you probably won't recognize this hero's name. She isn't a local business leader or a prominent community member. She is seven year old Ella Hoehner from Shelby County, whose aunt lost her home to the powerful Salyersville tornado on March 2nd. After hearing her mother talking to someone on the phone about her aunt Melody Conley's situation, Ella went to her room and came back with a jar full of money. This was money she was saving to go to "horse camp"...$42 dollars to be exact. And, she told her mother, Beth, that she wanted to send the money to her Aunt Melody. Beth explained, "I know $42 dollars isn't a lot, but when it is everything you have and you immediately hand it over with no questions or second thoughts, it really makes everyone step back and think. People need to think, 'Wait a minute. Everything I can do, no matter how small or how big...it IS going to make a difference.'"
So, 7-year old Ella sat down and wrote her Aunt Melody a letter, and then mailed it along with the money. "I put $42 dollars in the envelope along with the note. I hope she will be able to get another house. I know she needs to have a house more than I needed to go to horse camp," explained Ella.
Ella's Aunt Melody says she has been moved by the way the entire region has helped those affected by the tornadoes, but she says she has been forever changed by the unselfishness of a single child. "My sister had called and said that her granddaughter and my neice, Ella wanted to send me a letter. I was over here at the house trying to pick up and trying to clean up when my sister and my mom brought the letter to me here in Salyersville. When I started reading the letter, she said she was sorry I had lost my home, but she was glad I was alive. And, I will never forget what she has done."
Congratulations, Ella Hoehner, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero!

No comments:

Post a Comment