Six-year-old Riyah Biln wants people in Maple Ridge and abroad to have enough food to fill their bellies.

The kindergarten student has been raising money for the Friends In Need Food Bank and World Vision by selling frozen food orders.

Riyah recently saw a program on television about Somalia that made a lasting impression on her.

"They were sad and they were hungry," she said.

"They didn't have food."

By raising $500 for World Vision, Riyah is hoping the people of Somalia "can be healthy - not like before."

But seeing the line-up outside the Friends In Need Food Bank on Friday morning also made an impression on Riyah as she arrived to bring a $500 cheque for the organization.

Earlier this year, Riyah went to several Maple Ridge financial institutions, including the Bank of Montreal, Westminster Savings Credit Union, and Vancity Credit Union, and took food orders from employees for frozen food sold by her family's company Snowcrest.

Her goal was to raise $1,000 for charity and she was able to do that, although her mother Aman said "it's an uphill battle after Christmas," especially selling frozen food in freezing weather.

Riyah also sold frozen food to customers at the family's PetroCanada gas station on 232nd Street.

In the summer, Riyah and her friends from school plan to spend a couple hours picking blueberries at the family's farm, and expect to sell them for charity.

The extra cash is always welcome at the food bank where hundreds of clients pick up hampers of food and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Over the past year, the food bank has been giving out fresh produce to its clients in order to raise the nutritional value of the donations.

"I personally like to eat healthy," said Friends In Need executive director Joanne Olson. "It bothered me not be able to give the clients healthy food."

People who have low incomes - like the seniors and people on disability incomes who are their clients - are not eating very healthy food, Olson said.

When people have less money, they can't afford to buy healthy food and often live on white bread and canned vegetables.

The fresh fruit and vegetables have added to transportation and garbage costs, but Olson said it's worth it to make sure hundreds of clients get healthier food.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com