SANTA PAULA : Little House May Bring Big Benefits

A three-story, six-room Victorian in Santa Paula, complete with electrical wiring, plumbing and wallpaper, is being raffled for $1 a ticket, with proceeds to benefit the local hospice. The only hitch is the occupants will have to be 6 inches tall. The building is a dollhouse.

The house, which is valued at $1,500 to $2,000, was built by 10 women who wanted to give something back to their community, said Sally Phelps, a spokeswoman for the group. The women decided to build and outfit one house a year for a different charity.

The first house, built last year, brought in nearly $2,000 to benefit the local library. The group hopes to raise at least that much for the Santa Clara Valley Hospice, although sales are going slowly, Phelps said.

The hospice helps 30 to 35 terminally ill patients and their families from Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru at any one time.

“I think this group is so terrific and so talented,” hospice Administrator Katherine Anderson said. “This is volunteerism at its best. We’re lucky to be the recipient.”

The house, which took eight months to complete, was built by customizing a kit, or “kit-bashing,” Phelps said. It comes with a fully decorated Christmas tree, but no furniture. The winner of the house will also receive a gift certificate to Larianne’s Small Wonders in Ventura, a store where miniatures are sold.

The house is on display at Mr. Nichols, 910 E. Main St., where raffle tickets can be purchased. The drawing will be held Dec. 15.