ChilliwackB次元官网网址檚 Emily Loewen is proof that one person, a small one at that, can make a big difference.
When a wildfire wiped out the village of Lytton in early July, the nine-year-old wanted to help. She started with a humble lemonade stand, asking $2 a cup, and it grew from there.
When the little girl finally poured her last lemonade a few days ago, the final fundraising tally stood at $3,400.
On Tuesday (Aug. 3), sitting at the same table at the same corner where it all began, at Charles Street and First Avenue, Loewen presented that money to Lytton mayor Jan Polderman.
B次元官网网址淲hen my dad told me Lytton was on fire, I wanted to help,B次元官网网址� she said.
Loewen made $220 the first two hours alone on the day she set up her lemonade stand, getting help from seven-year-old stepsister Savannah Tickle and neighbor Gracie MacKinnon. Encouraged by that, she turned it into a daily exercise, hoping to raise $1,000. There were days under the red-hot scorching sun when she just wanted to pack it up, go inside and watch TV, but she kept going.
B次元官网网址淚t was 10 out of 10,B次元官网网址� she said when asked how difficult it was sitting out in the heat.
But she fought the urge to drink all the lemonade herself, and watched as her efforts paid off.
B次元官网网址淥ne day we went to a place (Vedder Park) and a bunch of bikers came down to give us money,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢y dad had to go to the store to get big jugs of water because we sold out from just one group of bikers.B次元官网网址�
The bikers were part of the B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 Ride Fraser ValleyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楩raser Valley Riders GroupB次元官网网址� on Facebook, out for their Sunday poker run. Two days later, the B次元官网网址楾wo Wheel TuesdayB次元官网网址� bikers made a stop at the Charles Street stand.
By the time that day was done, the fundraising tally topped $2,400 and donations from friends and family pushed the final total to $3,440.
The biggest single donation made was $500 by Brad Marbry of Fort St. John.
B次元官网网址淚 feel happy, because IB次元官网网址檓 helping other people that I donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 hope the money is used to help them get food and stuff like that to help them survive.B次元官网网址�
When he accepted the donation from Loewen, Polderman gave her a Lytton pin as a momento, and told her the money may go to help re-stock the Lytton library once itB次元官网网址檚 rebuilt. Loewen took a moment to consider that, picturing Lytton children reading books bought with her donation.
B次元官网网址淕ood!B次元官网网址� she said with a grin.
Polderman has been back to Lytton several times since the town was evacuated and then destroyed June 30. In a dark time, he said heB次元官网网址檚 been floored by the community response, and LoewenB次元官网网址檚 donation is a heartwarming example.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been reassuring and comforting knowing so many people care, especially people as young as Emily,B次元官网网址� Polderman said. B次元官网网址淗er efforts are appreciated and there needs to be more people in the world like her.B次元官网网址�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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