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Girl, 4, Raising Funds For Sandy Victims By Making, Selling Pot Holders

SAYREVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A 4-year-old girl in New Jersey is doing her share to help Hurricane Sandy victims.

Little Makenna Switzer is raising money for those impacted by the storm by selling pot holders that she makes herself, CBS 2's Christine Sloan reported on Wednesday.

Makenna said takes her about 20 minutes to make each colorful woven pot holder.

The project started out two weeks ago as a hobby with her grandmother. They ended up being so proud of their colorful designs they showed them off on Facebook.

"It's purple then pink then yellow," Makenna described to Sloan.

Friends began offering $5 and $10 for each pot holder, but Makenna said she didn't want the money for herself.

"Making the pot holder for somebody who lost their house from Sandy," she told Sloan.

"I said that would be a great idea. And I said, 'so what are we going to do?' She said 'well, when we go to their door, I'll give them a pot holder.' And I told her, 'well, some of these people don't even have stoves.' She says, 'if we raise enough money, they'll be able buy a stove so they can use my pot holder,'" Makenna's grandmother, Cindy Switzer, said.

The plan to sell the pot holders and raise money for Sandy victims in Sayreville where they live grew out of that conversation.

The two have already collected $700.

Makenna even has a name for her project.

"I hope this makes you smile," she told Sloan.

Makenna said the project started with two orders and has since grown to 180 orders.

The orders are coming from all over the country.

But Makenna said she is worried that when she goes to kindergarten next year, she may not have enough time for the project, so she's recruiting her friends.

The only requirement she has is that they have to be at least 5 years old because that's how old Makenna says you have to be to handle the tools to make the pot holders.

Makenna said she's OK handling the tools because she's a smart 4-year-old.

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