VAN, Texas — It’s been nearly two weeks since Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida's Big Bend, leaving devastation in its wake.
One mom and daughter-duo from East Texas are organizing a lemonade stand in order to raise money for Hurricane Relief to help families in North Carolina.
"We got inspired as a family to ask what we could do as a family all the way out here in Texas to maybe help them," Jessica Bullock said.
It didn't take much to get her daughter involved.
"I have a lot of empathy, and I don't like to see anyone sad," Verbena Bullock said.
Verbena who’s only six-years-old was motivated after her mom showed her the devastating footage of the catastrophic destruction brought by Helene.
"Immediately she got very excited and said, I want to do a lemonade stand," Verbena's mother said. "In the spirit of encouraging her generosity and her inspiration, we rolled with it, and are helping her make it happen."
The six-year-old initially wanted to send some of her stuffed animals and coloring books. Later coming up with the idea of a lemonade stand after she read a children's book that also inspired her.
"It was a picture of a girl and I could tell that it was a story about her, that she was running a lemonade stand," she said.
The mom said her daughter is motivated by the idea of making a difference and helping others who have lost everything.
"It's important that kids know that their inspired ideas can make a difference in the world, even if it's small," Bullock said.
No matter what they raise, the Bollocks say victims in North Carolina need all the support they can get.
"We all have the power to do something important, and every little bit counts," Jessica said. "Even though it's just a little lemonade stand here in East Texas, it's going to make a small difference for a family and a community somewhere in North Carolina."
The family is vetting possible candidates for the funds raised, including a family with a daughter around Verbena's age who lost everything.
The Bullocks have garnered loads of support from community members and local organizations to make this fundraiser happen. Receiving donations of cups and supplies. They anticipate selling 100 to 150 cups of lemonade.
The mother is hoping her daughter and her friends involved will learn valuable lifelong skills.
"We're really trying to make sure that the children are at the forefront of the whole project because we know that's where learning happens best," Jessica said. "Whenever they're excited, inspired and feel like their contributions are really important."