CREATIVE CHARITY
Nine-year-old Kingsville student’s poetry earns $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity Windsor-essex
Poem to help build home
For nine-year-old Lake Severin, home is a warm feeling of happiness where memories are made.
And he’s hoping the $10,000 grant he won writing about the meaning of home will help another local family get their forever home.
The Jack Miner public school student’s poem titled Feelings of Home was chosen as one of three Grade 4 runners-up in Habitat for Humanity Canada’s annual writing contest that saw a record 10,227 entries from across the country this year.
Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 were eligible to enter.
The $10,000 will be used by Habitat for Humanity Windsor-essex for a future build.
“I know that the $10,000 will go to our community and I know some people are in need for a house that they could live in, a home,”
Severin said.
He said the inspiration for his poetry came from his own experiences and in thinking “about other people who don’t have the same blessings as I do with my home.”
Lake began each line of his poem with the letters that spell out Habitat Humanity.
It was the first poem he’s ever written.
“I write a lot of stories though. And I write song lyrics so that’s kind of like poetry,” said the Kingsville resident of the Christian songs he writes and performs while playing the piano.
Mom Lindsay Severin said the family is thrilled with Lake’s accomplishment.
“We’re very proud of him especially for the work that the local community will be able to do with the money,” she said. “Just last year, they were building homes with Habitat in Kingsville so it’s nice that it gets to stay local.”
Fiona Coughlin, executive director of the Windsor-essex Habitat for Humanity, said eliminating poverty housing is always the organization’s focus.
“The young people who put pen to paper to help us give us hope for the future,” Coughlin said. “Our children know what it means to have a safe, decent place to call home.
“And sadly many local youth also know what it’s like to worry about not having a home.”
Every student entry also earned a $10 donation. Locally, 292 students entered the contest, helping to raise an additional $2,920.
The funds will go toward building homes in the Ford City neighbourhood, Coughlin said.
To view all the winners and their poems, visit meaningofhome.ca.