By Jill Sperling

11-year-old Ashcroft girl raising money for local fire departments

Aug 29, 2017 | 10:33 AM

CACHE CREEK, B.C. — The wildfires burning across the province have devastated B.C. residents and communities, but they have also brought out the best in people, who donate their time and money to help those in need.

11-year-old Khiara Archibald of Ashcroft has been volunteering non-stop since the wildfire situation exploded in early July. 

“I volunteered after it started, after that I helped volunteer, making sandwiches, and unloading trucks of food and stuff for people,” she said. 

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Soon, Khiara began selling homemade bracelets to raise money for wildfire victims. 

“She did a fundraiser for fire victims when we were in Savona, and she raised $178 in one night selling bracelets at a campsite and donated it to a local lady from the Ashcroft Indian Band,” said Khiara’s mother, Nicole Archibald. “She just keeps going from there, so (I’m a) proud mom.”

Khiara’s latest endeavour is raising money for the Ashcroft and Cache Creek fire departments. Selling lemonade, bracelets, and #BCSTRONG products she’s hoping to raise enough money to purchase back-up power generators in case of future emergencies. 

“We’ve got about $1,300 so far,” Archibald said. “We’re hoping for about $3,000, and then we’re going to challenge Highland Valley Copper to match our donations, or local businesses. That should give enough for both fire departments to get a generator.” 

On Monday, Khiara set up shop at the Cache Creek Husky, where she received an additional $362 in cash donations, and sold more than $500 worth of #BCSTRONG products. 

One of her customers was Australian firefighter Terry Farley, the chief superintendent of Fire & Rescue New South Wales. 

“I’m very proud of her, and proud of her achievements,” Farley said. “For an 11-year-old girl to give back to the community, and actually back to the fire department is a great effort. Everyone should be around supporting her.”

With school about to start, Khiara shows no signs of slowing down. 

“I’m like, ‘no honey, you don’t need to volunteer today,’” Nicole Archibald said. “She’s like ‘no, there’s still people that need my help. I want to make some more sandwiches, I want to make cupcakes.’ She keeps us going when we’re tired and we want to stop, she wants to keep volunteering.”

“I just really like to help,” Khiara said. 

For information on how to help out Khiara’s cause, email her mother Nicole at nicolearchibald@hotmail.com