A young girl with a big heart has helped to raise $6,000 to benefit the Ashcroft and Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Departments; and she has also received the provincial government含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社淎bove and Beyond含羞草研究社� award for her efforts.
Khiara Archibald, an 11-year-old student at Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft, wanted to raise funds to help those affected by this summer含羞草研究社檚 wildfires. In August she and two friends 含羞草研究社� Jordan Kidder and Issabella Johnston 含羞草研究社� set up a lemonade stand on Government Street in Ashcroft, where Khiara also sold homemade jewellery she had created.
They wanted to raise funds for the volunteer firefighters, and held up a sign reading 含羞草研究社淔irefighters save more than homes, they save hearts, memories, and dreams.含羞草研究社� Khiara also decided to raise funds to help Mae Kirkpatrick, who lost her home on the Ashcroft Reserve on July 7.
| Khiara Archibald raised $6,000 for her fire departments. |
含羞草研究社淚 really wanted to help raise money for people,含羞草研究社� Khiara told The Journal in late August. 含羞草研究社淚 thought it was something nice to do.含羞草研究社� She said that she decided to give the funds raised to Kirkpatrick after hearing how she had escaped from a burning house on the Reserve while she was babysitting.
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Khiara then began raising funds to help the local firefighters. 含羞草研究社淚 decided to help them because they did so much for us. I heard [Ashcroft fire chief] Josh White say they needed a generator. I thought I could raise some money.含羞草研究社�
Her father Keith built her a lemonade stand, which she set up for several days outside the Ashcroft fire hall; and she was also able to set the stand up at the Cache Creek Husky. In addition, Khiara sold her homemade jewellery, which she had started making and selling while staying at the campground in Savona during the summer.
Khiara含羞草研究社檚 goal was to raise $6,000. 含羞草研究社淚 thought she might raise a couple of hundred dollars,含羞草研究社� says Khiara含羞草研究社檚 mother Nicole. However, Khiara含羞草研究社檚 efforts and hard work paid off, and she raised $2,000.
She then approached Interior Savings Credit Union (ISCU) to see if they could make a donation. Ashcroft branch manager Karma Kubbernus said that they had $500 left to donate, and staff decided to go ahead. Kubbernus then put in a request to the ISCU Community Investment Fund for the remaining $3,500.
That fund is managed by a committee of ISCU staff, and its focus area is on things that are sustainable and that have a positive impact on the local economy. 含羞草研究社淭he request was a perfect fit,含羞草研究社� says Kubbernus, and they received the $3,500.
On December 19, a presentation of $6,000 was made to White and Cache Creek fire captain Bill Elliott. Both men were impressed by, and grateful for, Khiara含羞草研究社檚 efforts.
含羞草研究社淒onations have been coming in, and it含羞草研究社檚 wonderful; but this one is especially nice, with a young person taking on an initiative like this,含羞草研究社� says Elliott.
White says that this has 含羞草研究社淩eally given me a positive outlook on the future generation. They含羞草研究社檙e not all in their rooms playing video games. They含羞草研究社檙e very conscious about what含羞草研究社檚 going on around them.
含羞草研究社淜hiara was exceptional, setting up the lemonade stand in front of the hall and putting in the time. Lots of people wouldn含羞草研究社檛 do that, but she and her family were out there. It含羞草研究社檚 just amazing; a big Christmas present come early.含羞草研究社�
After the presentation, White prepared to take Khiara for a ride around town in the fire department含羞草研究社檚 Engine 3. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the least we can do.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 very proud of her,含羞草研究社� says Nicole. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 no doubt she can do anything she sets her mind to. She含羞草研究社檚 a pretty determined girl.含羞草研究社�
editorial@accjournal.ca
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