Ziyana Moledina has found the perfect recipe for helping:

乌鸦传媒淐ocoa powder, sugar and salt 乌鸦传媒� but just a pinch of salt, otherwise it乌鸦传媒檚 too salty,乌鸦传媒� the nine-year-old said, listing off ingredients for the homemade hot chocolate that乌鸦传媒檚 helped her raise $3,000 for children and refugees in war-torn countries.

Ziyana, in Grade 4 at Southridge School, began her tradition of setting up a hot chocolate stand t the end of her South Surrey driveway every Oct. 31 three years ago.

Her mom, Zehra, recalls Ziyana initially asked to host a summer lemonade stand because she wanted 乌鸦传媒渢o raise money for orphans,乌鸦传媒� but life got busy and the idea never came to fruition.

But Ziyana didn乌鸦传媒檛 give up, and the idea for a hot chocolate stand during prime trick-or-treating hours was born.

乌鸦传媒淚 kept talking about lemonade stand, lemonade stand, lemonade stand,乌鸦传媒� Ziyana told Peace Arch News last week.

乌鸦传媒淣ow, I乌鸦传媒檝e been doing this for three years and I乌鸦传媒檝e raised about $3,000.乌鸦传媒�

Days ahead of time, Ziyana goes with her dad to deliver flyers around the neighbourhood to promote her fundraiser, then prepares a banner and other decorations for the stand itself.

On the big day, she brews the drink, dons a costume and, with the help of her younger siblings Armaan and Aila, and under mom乌鸦传媒檚 supervision, offers the sweet concoction at 25 cents per cup for trick-or-treaters, and by-donation for adults.

When she started out, Ziyana set a goal to raise $1,000 for Child Aid International, a Canadian charity focused on helping orphans.

The first year, her effort raised $524 乌鸦传媒� including $100 that was donated by a classmate乌鸦传媒檚 parent following a school presentation Ziyana did about her fundraising project.

Last year, with no time for advance promotion, she collected $200.

This year, not only were 250 flyers distributed ahead of time, but the availability of the tasty beverage, along with details of where donations would go 乌鸦传媒� and a link to the charity itself 乌鸦传媒� was posted to Facebook. A prize draw was also added, to sweeten the pot.

The result was better than expected 乌鸦传媒� just over $2,000.

乌鸦传媒淎t the stand alone, cash that came in乌鸦传媒� was $326,乌鸦传媒� Zehra told PAN the day after Halloween.

乌鸦传媒淎nd then she got a whole bunch of donations because we posted on Facebook. And, she got a matching donor.

乌鸦传媒淪he was ecstatic this morning.乌鸦传媒�

Ziyana described the funds raised as 乌鸦传媒済reat.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭he more money I get, the more money goes to the children and refugees.乌鸦传媒�

The donations, she said, will help build a home in for five siblings whose parents were killed in war.

It should be no surprise that Ziyana is no stranger to helping. In kindergarten, she donated her hair to , a charity that aims to improve the quality of life for kids dealing with cancer.

And if someone gets hurt at school, 乌鸦传媒淚 reassure them.乌鸦传媒�

Zehra said her family also participates in 乌鸦传媒渁ll sorts乌鸦传媒� of charitable work with their mosque, the Az-Zahraa Islamic Center in Richmond.

Asked if she has plans for more fundraising, Ziyana乌鸦传媒檚 response was decided:

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 just sticking to this one,乌鸦传媒� she said.