Westport 10-Year-Old Steps Up to Help Family Friend After Heartbreaking Loss

At just 10 years old, one Westport girl and her cousins are proving you don’t have to be a grown-up to make a difference in your community.

That is exactly what Nevaia has planned for Saturday, Aug. 29. Instead of setting up another lemonade stand like she's done in the past, she wanted to try something different. Although, this time, she wanted every dollar she raised to help someone else.

From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 11 Tickle Road in Westport, Nevaia and her cousins will host their very own hot dog stand. Five dollars gets you two hot dogs, a bag of chips and a drink, with all proceeds being donated to the Christian A. Rivera Foundation.

A 10-Year-Old With a Big Heart

According to Nevaia's dad Scott, the idea was completely the kids. "They just want to help out and make a difference in somebody's life," he said.

The cause also hits close to home for the family. A friend of Scott's lost his 18-year-old son, Christian Rivera, to suicide several years ago, prompting the hot dog fundraiser.

Since then, fundraisers have been held in Christian's memory to help raise awareness. When Nevaia learned about it, she decided she wanted to do her part, too. "My daughter's like, 'We're going to do something to help out,'" Scott said.

More Than Just a Hot Dog Stand

Nevaia has held small lemonade stands before, but Saturday will be the first time she has taken one of her pop-up stands and turned it into a fundraiser for someone else. She does not plan on keeping any of the money she raises; she wants it all to go toward the cause.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Boy Raises $2,882 for Animals at Final Dartmouth Backyard Bash

For Scott, this is a proud parenting moment and an important life lesson about helping others. For everyone else, it is a chance to grab lunch for five bucks while supporting Westport kids who are learning at a very young age just how much good can come from one simple idea.