Sudbury girls to run booth to raise money for favourite causes

Abigail & Mary's Refreshments will run on July 18 in the parking lot of the United Pentecostal Church

Article content The original plan was to be set up at the Yoruba Heritage Sudbury event this Saturday afternoon at the Delki Dozzi playground on Mary Street. A change in those plans will now see Abigail Espino and Mary Abejide set up their Abigail & Mary’s Refreshments booth in the parking lot of the United Pentecostal Church on the east end of Lasalle Boulevard. Recommended Videos The girls, both aged 11 and long-time friends who share an interest in activities such as cooking, will be offering free cold drinks – specifically a handmade Nigerian drink called Sorrel – with donations accepted.

“(Mary) is a compassionate, young girl,” said Julianah, Mary’s mother, in an interview. “We were looking for a platform to help her communicate and engage others. With all that’s going on in the world, this is what kindness is all about.”

Sorrel, also known as Zobo, is a caffeine-free herbal beverage made from dried roselle/hibiscus petals. It is brewed by boiling the leaves with ginger, cloves and citrus, sweetened, and then served cold. The drink has a deep red colour and a tarty flavour.

The pair of young entrepreneurs will donate their proceeds to PetSave, Health Sciences North’s NEO Kids, and the Sudbury Community Foundation’s Sudbury Regional Tree Fund. Julianah said the girls, with support from their family members, will operate the refreshment stand from noon to 5 p.m. “We are very optimistic and ambitious for this,” she said. “We are looking at $1,000-$5,000.”

Julianah said Abigail & Mary’s Refreshments will probably not be a one-off venture. “For sure,” she said. “That’s the idea.

We would be open to all venues. This is our first.” About the charities Pet Save Pet Save is a registered, no-kill animal rescue charity that operates out of a state-of-the-art facility at 95 White Rd.

in Lively. It rescues, rehabilitates and finds homes for abandoned, abused, and neglected dogs and cats. The organization also advocates heavily for spay-and-neuter initiatives.

NEO Kids NEO Kids at Health Sciences North is a pediatric care centre. It provides clinical expertise, rehabilitation, and developmental support for newborns, children, and youth. Its goal is to provide specialized care closer to home so northern families don’t have to travel far.

Sudbury Regional Tree Fund Established in partnership with the City of Greater Sudbury, the fund is an initiative dedicated to the preservation, protection, restoration, and improvement of forests, ecosystems, and watersheds in the region. X: @HaroldCarmichael