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"I think everyone should have presents at Christmas.” |
That could well be nine-year-old Ava Koldenhof’s mantra when asked why she and her grandmother set about producing and selling legions of hand-crafted bracelets, earrings and pins in the shape of tiny angels.
Over the past year, the Grade 4 Dixon elementary student has used her spare time to help raise money for charity and last week presented $500 to the Richmond Christmas Fund.
“I was happy to do it,” Ava said, when asked how it made her feel to play a role in making sure needy, local families can celebrate the holidays.
The charitable streak Ava shows — she also supports the Make a Wish Foundation and Water for Africa — comes naturally, said her mom, Sally.
“It’s modelling,” she said. “As a family we’ve sponsored other families at Christmas time through the Richmond Christmas Fund. And we’ve always had the kids be involved with the whole process. Plus, my mom is a very generous person and very empathetic by nature. And all of that has kinda stuck with her (Ava).”
Ava’s willingness to help out includes declining birthday presents and instead asking for money she then, in turn, donates to charities.
“Her last few birthday parties she’s said, ‘I don’t need presents.’ So, she’ll tell her friends to bring money and donate to different causes like the food bank, and Make a Wish Foundation,” Sally said.
About a year ago Ava and her grandmother started their beadwork.
“They found some beads that looked like dresses, so they put it together to look like an angel,” Sally said. “The first ones didn’t have wings. So, they had to make ones using tiny ribbons. But that took too long and was hard to do. And then they sourced a place that had beads that looked like wings.”
“My grandma lives with us, so we make angels quite often. If we are really into it, we can make about 100 in an afternoon,” said Ava.
In the past they have had to fill some hefty orders. The most recent one for 100 angels had the shipment sent off to a customer in Ontario.
Locally, buyers can order the angels, which range from $1 for charms and $2 for earrings and pins, from Ava’s website (avasangels.wix.com). And on Nov. 19 she plans on selling them during a craft fair at her school.
For more information about the Richmond Christmas Fund and how you can help support a local family during the holidays, visit the Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives website at rcrg.org and click on the Richmond Christmas Fund logo.
Ava Koldenhof uses her spare time make charms to sell for the Richmond Christmas Fund
