After seeing the impact his lemonade stand had on hurricane relief efforts, 6-year-old Hudson Patrick set up a hot chocolate stand Saturday to benefit the local community.
In the back parking lot of Hy-Vee on West Truman Boulevard in Jefferson City, Patrick passed out hot chocolate as people left toys and food items. Instead of accepting monetary donations, the Pioneer Trail Elementary School first-grader asked people to donate toys for Toys for Tots and food items for the Food Bank for Northeast and Central Missouri.
Allison Patrick, Hudson's mom, said Toys for Tots specifically needed toys for infants and children age 6-8 years old, and the pantry needed small zip-close bags and Cream of Wheat.
In September, Hudson set up a lemonade stand; its proceeds went to J.J. Watts Hurricane Relief, run by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watts, to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Patrick raised more than $1,076 from his stand, and a Houston resident matched what he raised dollar for dollar, bringing the total to $2,152.
Allison said Hudson got the idea to sell hot chocolate for charity earlier this month to help families who can't afford Christmas presents for their children.
"Before, we did something that was far away from us so that Hudson could realize that stuff happens that could not actually affect us but we still need to do what we can to help. But the need is also right here in our city," Allison said. "People need food, or kids don't have the funds or money to be able to get toys for Christmas. It shows him that people need stuff right here in our community as well."