Girl Loves Pets, Helps Battle Addiction In Anne Arundel

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Eight-year-old Penelope Chandler knows heartache. Her beloved cousin Hunter, to whom she was close, died of an opioid overdose in 2016. This brave little girl and her mom, Erica, created Hunti's Hope Hunters two years later to honor Hunter and to help others struggling with addiction, as well as those trying to save them.

"Hope was something I lost in so many aspects of my life when we lost him. It took me a while to find it again, but hope is what keeps me moving. Hope, in my children’s eyes, especially my daughter’s as I witness her feeling the impact she’s having on others...hope in the strength and determination of friends and family in recovery...hope in the faces of those no longer feeling alone in their journey...hope in the efforts of the countless people helping others in need...Hope," Erica Chandler wrote on their GoFundMe page.

They have traveled to New York and delivered bookmarks to helpers at a detox/rehabilitation unit there and handed out happiness journals to be used by the patients. They have had an impact locally, across the state and elsewhere. Since forming the project, sweet Penelope has been honored in several ways for her and her mom's efforts.

Their project has been supported with a Kid Kindness grant for two consecutive years, which was made possible through the nonprofit Kindness Grows here.

"Hope Hunters never would have been what it is without them," said Chandler.

But Penelope also has a soft spot for animals and recently went viral for another act of kindness.

Penelope loves participating in the Book Buddies event held at SPCA of Anne Arundel County, Chandler told Patch. She attended the Book Buddies held right before Christmas and took with her items they had bought for the animals. But it was an emotional visit for this little girl and her mom, Erica Chandler shared on Facebook.

"I saw a tear in her eye as she realized the dog she has read to at the SPCA was adopted; a bittersweet moment for her- sad but also grateful that he found a home for Christmas," said Chandler.

Penelope also approached every single dog at the shelter that night, said their names out loud and wished them a Merry Christmas, making her mom weepy.

"On the way home, she told me, 'If I had five minutes, just five minutes mom, to talk to the entire world, I would want everyone to hear that you should always be kind especially to animals,'" said Chandler. "By the time we got home, this kid had me fighting back tears several times."

The Crofton Woods Elementary student also informed her mom that if she won a million dollars, she would adopt all of the dogs at the SPCA, Chandler told Patch.