Young Knitter Helps Put Tornado Victims in New Homes

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Work to rebuuild Joplin after last year's deadly tornado continues.

One 9 year old Kentucky girl's knitting project, called "Elephants Remember Joplin," is helping move families into homes.

When Cee Cee Creech saw the devastation from the tornado on television, she told her mom she wanted to help - even from as far away as Campbelssville, Ky.

The day after the tornado hit, Cee Cee broke out her yarn and knitting needles and started making homemade elephants.

As the old saying goes, elephants never forget, and neither does Cee Cee.

Her latest efforts are going to Homes of Hope in Joplin.

"We auction them off and we raffle them off to raise money for local non-profits here in Joplin," says Charlie Brown of Homes of Hope.

For the past few days, people have stopped by McAlister's Deli in Joplin for a chance to win one of the homemade elephants.

"Well, kids can change the world," says young Christopher Andrew who is bidding on an elephant, "and it's being pretty good to Joplin because we need more money for the people that lost their homes."

Restaurant employees say they were more than happy to lend the space for the fundraiser.

"Our whole management team's glad to be part of it," says Joshua Bussey, associate manager at McAlister's. "To be able to help just do what we can. To rebuild this community in any way."

And every penny from these raffles will go directly to building homes for tornado victims.

Right now, Homes of Hope has three houses under construction and 17 planned.

Says Brown, "We're looking to raise about a million dollars so eventually we're looking to raise that much. And we know we can do it."

The elephants will be raffled off at McAllister's in Joplin 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Aug. 27-29.

Cee Cee says she has a network of knitters helping her raise this money for Homes of Hope and other nationwide charities.

She says so many people helping her only inspires her to continue knitting even more.