Life lessons learned one nail at a time

Youngsters at Kids Cottage learned some life lessons July 8 and got to use hammers in the process.

Partnering with Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, TruNorth Renovations, Schell Brothers and Lowe’s, the children donned goggles and did their best to hammer in the nails for two doghouses that will eventually go to a four-legged friend in need.

“This is the first experience for many of the kids of doing something for someone else and not expecting anything in return,” said Jason Burris of Lewes, owner of TruNorth Renovations.

This is the first year Kids Cottage tried the building experiment, and Nancy Greene, program manager for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, was thrilled. “It’s a great way to start our pipeline and get the kids to know about our organization,” she said.

Four-year-old Allissa Holt of Rehoboth Beach stayed until the very end after many in her class retreated from the hot sun for water, bathroom or the cool of inside.

“I want to build another one,” she said, after nailing a near-perfect nail into the base of the doghouse. And with her aspirations of becoming an architect, that may well be in her future someday.

One of the doghouses will go to a family in need of it, and the other will be auctioned off or sold in the Habitat resalel store.

“Money raised from the auction will go to help a family with construction costs,” Burris said.