She may be a little girl, but she’s got a huge heart and the power to help others in a big way.
Faith Ann Shipman, 10, was up early outside her Cutchogue home yesterday, manning a lemonade stand she set up to help the family of Benjamin Pileski, 20, who was critically injured after being hit by a taxi last month in Montauk.
Faith’s mom Beth said her daughter has seen Ben’s father Thomas Pileski, who lives across the street from her grandparents in Mattituck, leaving to drive to the hospital every day to see his son, and she wanted to help him pay for gas expenses.
Faith’s sister Grace, 13, helped to make signs, their mom said.
Faith was diligent in her dedication to raising funds; she sat outside from 8:45 a.m. until 4:45 p.m., and today, so far, she’s raised $316 with donations still coming in, her mom said. A sign at the lemonade, decorated with an anchor, read “I’m in Ben’s Corner.”
The slogan is one that’s on T-shirts and hats designed by Kathleen Shea at Riverhead’s Peconic Bay Apparel to raise funds for Ben’s family.
Faith said she was happy with the success of her lemonade stand: “I feel very good about it, because I know it’s helping someone,” Faith said.
Even one of Southold’s finest, Police Officer Greg Simmons, stopped by for a cool drink of lemonade and to make a donation.
Shipman said Faith made $146 at the sale, and then her grandparents also donated money, with others still wanting to add to the total.
Abby Tyler, also 10, came across the street to join Faith at the lemonade stand. “My friend had the idea and I wanted to help her,” she said. “It felt good.”
Kait’s Angels also came out in support of Ben this weekend, hosting a yard sale at the Doorhy home in Mattituck that drew crowds and a generous sea of donations.
SoutholdLOCAL photos courtesy of Shipman family.
