Pella Christian eighth grade student Breckyn De Vries is continuing her efforts to raise funds for the families affected by the tragic events at Perry High School almost two weeks ago.

To help fundraise for this cause, Breckyn made bracelets for a free will donation that was held during Pella Christian’s basketball games against Knoxville this past Thursday. De Vries said that her hope behind making the bracelets was to raise as much money as possible to help the families affected with hospital expenses. 

“I just really felt the need to help them, and I felt like it was really on my heart to raise money for them.”

Breckyn’s mother Lindsay said that she wasn’t surprised by her daughter’s idea to help the families in Perry, and added that their family was busy putting together the bracelets for Thursday’s games.

“Breckyn has always had a heart for others. She definitely loves kids and when she brought the idea to me, I wasn’t completely surprised that she wanted to do something just because of her heart for others and the way that she wants to love others and bless other people. So, when she brought the idea to me I said okay let’s go for it and her dad has had a huge hand in it as well. He’s been buying beads for her and chasing down different colored beads, so it’s been kind of an all hands on deck situation at our house.”

As of Monday night, the free will donation has raised $2,135, with two non-profit groups pledging to match the final total raised. Hear more from Breckyn De Vries and her mom Lindsay on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.