Hometown Hero: Teen's hot cocoa tradition raises more than $30,000 for children

Olivia Knowles marked 10 years of an annual hot cocoa stand, dropping off a $5,000 donation to Grandma's Place; the project has donated more than $30,000 in total.

Olivia Knowles of Royal Palm Beach marked ten years of an annual hot cocoa stand this season. The stand donates its proceeds to Grandma's Place, a local emergency shelter that serves abused and neglected foster children and provides temporary care for children with disabilities and their caregivers. This year she presented the shelter with a $5,000 check. Over the life of the tradition, the project has donated more than $30,000 to the organization. Key details: - The hot cocoa stand began when Olivia was in kindergarten after she learned about children in the community who were less fortunate and wanted to help. - Olivia said the first year brought about $80, and the event has grown each year since. - This year's donation to Grandma's Place was $5,000. - In total, the stand has raised more than $30,000 for the shelter. - Grandma's Place is described as an emergency shelter for abused and neglected foster children that also provides temporary care for kids with disabilities and their caregivers. - The neighborhood event typically happens in December and this 10th-year celebration included crafts and a visit from Santa. Summary: Olivia's decade-long hot cocoa stand has provided ongoing financial support to Grandma's Place and has been used to fund extra services such as music and art therapy, as staff described. The event is a yearly December tradition in the neighborhood, and this year delivered a $5,000 check as part of more than $30,000 raised to date. The community continues to anticipate the annual December gathering.