Amid all the controversy over U.S. aid for tsunami relief, it’s encouraging to hear stories like this: an 11-year-old Seattle boy opened a hot chocolate stand and raised $255 for relief efforts in Asia. The money will be donated to the Christian relief agency World Vision.

“It’s so horrid, so terrible–such a huge loss of family. And I couldn’t do anything about it,” sixth-grader Thomas Wilson said. “Then I did this hot chocolate stand and it made me feel better.”