Renowned storyteller Susan Klein will tell a selection of her beloved Island-based stories at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. as a benefit for Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard.

Ms. Klein will present a selection of stories included in her book Through a Ruby Window: A Martha’s Vineyard Childhood. She also plans to include in her repertoire the story of a single mom named Chris, who, finding herself homeless, qualified for affordable housing through Habitat of Martha’s Vineyard. This event changed Chris’s life.

Since 2002, Habitat has partnered with Vineyard families to build eight homes which have brought stability to their children’s lives. Currently Habitat is working on the first of three homes on Bailey Park Road, on lots generously donated by the Town of West Tisbury. While the Vineyard has a reputation as the vacation home for the wealthy, the Island also is a microcosm of the rest of the country regarding unemployment, foreclosures and people in need of affordable housing.

Ms. Klein and photographer Alan Brigish are the creators of the award-winning book Martha’s Vineyard—Now and Zen, about the Island’s communities, traditions and transformations.

Ms. Klein is also a workshop leader, award-winning spoken-word artist, a director and producer of spoken-word recordings, an editor, and storytelling coach. She received the 2007 Creative Living Award from the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard and the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network.

Habitat executive director Neal A. Sullivan said, “Our mission is to build simple, decent housing for families in the lowest qualifying income range.” Median income of Vineyard families is $58,000, while the median home price tripled between 1997 and 2006 to $695,000.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard, visit online habitatMV.org.

The event will be followed by a reception and book signing. Tickets are $45 per person for ages 10 to adult. Tickets are available online at mvol.com, in person at Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven, Craftworks in Oak Bluffs, Edgartown Books in Edgartown, and Alley’s General Store in West Tisbury, or by calling 508-696-7400, extension 11.