“I don’t want people to be hungry,” Katelynn told the television station.
5-year-old Katelynn Hardee set up a cocoa-and-cookies stand, and soon decided the money she made would be used to pay off the lunch debt of 123 students in her San Diego County school district. https://t.co/VuxIvnWx24
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 14, 2019
Katelynn said her idea to erase her classmates’ debt came when she overheard another student’s mother talk about how hard it was to pay for something.
"She's very inquisitive," Katelynn's mother, Karina Hardee, told KSWB. "So she started asking me a bunch of questions and I tried to answer as best as I could without too much for a 5-year-old, and just explained to her that some people aren't as fortunate as us."
Katelynn asked her mother if she could set up a stand to sell hot cocoa and cookies, the television station reported. Katelynn originally wanted to donate the money to charity, but then decided to give it to the Vista Unified School District.
Katelynn baked the cookies and made the hot cocoa herself, then spent three hours over the weekend selling her wares, KNSD reported.
On Monday, Karina Hardee contacted school district officials.
"I just left a note saying my daughter held a hot cocoa fundraiser over the weekend and would love to donate the money to any of the negative accounts," Karina Hardee told KNSD.
"It is truly inspiring to see Katelynn’s compassion and generous nature utilized to help those less fortunate,” Jamie Phillips, Director of Child Nutrition Services for Vista Unified School District, told the television station.
Katelynn was honored with an award by her school principal, Lori Higley, and the school's cafeteria lead, Teresa Sharp, KNSD reported.
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