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VALLEY — With Valley Haven School missing out on the Hike/Bike/Run fundraiser this year due to COVID-19, fundraising has been down for the school this year.

All of us are hoping for better days ahead, but it should be noted that Valley Haven did receive a generous gift this week.

Eight-year-old Haven Miller gave money she’d been saving in a piggy bank for several years. It was all the money she had in the world, and she gave it to the school that shares her name.

“My wife Lacey and I are so proud of her,” said her dad, Chris Miller, who teaches at the school. “Every time we drive by she points to Valley Haven and says, ‘That’s my school. It has my name.’”

“I don’t know how much money was in there,” Miller said. “It was pretty heavy, so it could have been up to 30 dollars. What’s important is that it shows what she thinks of the school and what goes on there.”

Miller says they held off donating the money for a couple of weeks to make sure Haven wasn’t having any second thoughts.

“It’s something she wanted to do,” he said. “She wasn’t going to change her mind. She had been saving it for a long time, and it was all she had. She told me she didn’t need it and that it would help if it went to Valley Haven School.”

Haven’s dad is Valley Haven’s volunteer coordinator. He takes clients out to community events. He also directs the Valley Haven Chorus, which really shines on the annual LaFayette Day.

“We’d had our music picked out for this year, and we had been practicing it before the shutdown took place,” Miller said. “I’m sure the crowd would have really loved it. It’s so sad we weren’t able to do it this year. We hope things will be better next year.”

The school has been closed for some time. Miller said he misses everyone and is hoping for better days ahead.

Anyone who wants to follow Haven’s example and make a donation to Valley Haven School can do so. Anyone who donates $20 will receive one of the Hike/Bike/Run 2020 t-shirts.

“It’s best to call the school first at 334-756-2868 and set up an appointment to go there,” Miller said.