Aria Anderson & Brielle Gann
An initiative to raise funds for a noble cause recently earned two Flower Mound students great appreciation. Aria Anderson and Brielle Gann spent hours in the Wellington neighborhood under the scorching sun selling homemade dog treats to support a nonprofit. The collection was handed over to the Animal Rescue Foundation of Texas.
More than a mere end-of-the-year class project and the amount they raised, it was their kindness and generosity that created an impact.
We talked to McKamy Middle School students Aria and Brielle about their inclination toward social work. We also contacted their mothers to discuss how parents can help their children build a sense of social responsibility at a young age.
“Aria and I decided to cook the treats separately and then meet up the next day to sell them. I was to cook the pumpkin treats and the large chicken treats, while Aria cooked the bacon and cheddar treats and the small chicken treats so that we could accommodate dogs with different weights, allergies, and preferences,” Brielle Gann explained the planning and execution of their project. “Through this experience, I learned that even if I am young, I still have the power to impact my community, even if it is only a small one.”
Dog lover Aria Anderson was overwhelmed by the response they received from the neighborhood. She even had a few people reach out to her for seconds. Like Brielle,
she learned she could make a difference in her community.
“Even though you have big dreams, sometimes you must start smaller to get where you want to be. I was amazed at the number of people interested in purchasing the dog treats and how quickly they responded to just driving by a stand. Not only were they happy to support a good cause, but their dogs enjoyed the treats,”
she added.
Both girls are motivated by the support and appreciation they have received from the community. They want to continue charity work and volunteering in social activities. Whatever career they pursue, they want to do something for animal welfare.
Aria is active in school sports and has played on several competitive teams. She plays cello in her school orchestra and is also taking lessons. This year, she was on a school-sponsored Robotics team and was the main driver for the robot. In her free time, she likes sketching, drawing, playing video games, playing with her dog, and hanging out with friends.
Brielle loves reading, sketching, cheering for the Texas Rangers, and performing with Christian Youth Theatre. She also loves to entertain herself with what she considers her family’s zoo, which includes Tango (a beta fish), Essie (an American Eskimo dog), Luah (an Irish Setter), Poko (a parrotlet), and Hammy (a hamster).
The girls’ moms are proud of their daughters, who are always willing to give back to the community at a young age. Jessica Anderson says Aria is motivated to do things and has always had a big heart for helping her friends and those
around her.
“Aria is that child who is always doing something, working on something, and taking initiative! She also has always had a special place in her heart for dogs. She tells me she would love to have a farm with many dogs on it one day,” Jessica said.
Jessica has worked for several nonprofit organizations and is a Dyslexia Specialist for Lewisville ISD. She has always supported her kids when they wanted to do something to help the community. She believes that practicing kindness and generosity yourself is the first way to instill those qualities in kids. She says kids listen when you don’t think they are listening, and they watch when you don’t think they are watching.
Brielle’s mom, Diana Gann, also emphasizes the importance of a selfless act to make a meaningful change. She says parents need to model those attributes themselves first. “We always encourage our kids to ‘meet the needs you see,’ whether big or small. They can always make an impact by being kind and giving,” she said.
Jessica recalls how she implemented small, practical things at home with her kids, like writing thank you cards when they received any gift, taking 10% of any money they received and setting it aside to “give” away, and finding opportunities to help those in need, like feeding outreaches or food drives. Those practices have helped them realize what types of outreach missions are in their hearts so the kids can take ownership more and more of how they will positively impact their community, making it a place where they want to live.
