Norco Elementary student sells custom jewelry to raise money for Hurricane Ida victims

Gabrielle Williams started a jewelry making businesses in the wake of Hurricane Ida and has since raised over $500 for Norco Elementary teachers.

Montz resident Raelene Dunaway Williams said even though her 9-year-old daughter Gabrielle Williams was initially devastated when she saw Hurricane Ida’s destruction in her hometown, the Norco Elementary 4th grader has channeled her energy into selling custom jewelry pieces for a good cause.

“We evacuated for the storm, and on the way back Gabby didn’t say too much but was upset about how long it would take to get back to school and nervous how it would all go,” Raelene said.

During a trip to their home to collect belongings, Gabrielle asked Raelene to grab all her jewelry-making supplies.

“She had tons of beads and she asked for all of her jewelry making stuff … and it just kind of went from there,” Raelene said. ““She told me, ‘I want to donate money to people who lost their homes.’”

The mother and daughter duo devised a plan to help.

“When we heard how bad the school was and we knew a lot of teachers put a lot of time and money into their classrooms and that a lot of them had lost their homes and classrooms as well,” Raelene said, adding they have been in contact with Norco Elementary administration and plan to donate the money to teachers there.

Gabrielle has raised over $500 by selling her custom jewelry pieces to family and friends who live all over the country, and Raelene laughed when she said her daughter is currently working overtime to catch up on all her orders.

“It makes me feel happy that the teachers can get new things,” Gabrielle said.

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

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