11-year-old in Ames uses cheesecake to raise money for India amid COVID-19 outbreak

AMES, Iowa (KCCI) - An 11-year-old in Ames was inspired to help as India continues to deal with a massive COVID-19 outbreak.

India has the second-highest number of cases in the world.

So Sia Agnihotri created a fundraiser known as Jars of Hope.

Agnihotri uses a family recipe for cheesecake to make no-bake cheesecake served in jars, which are sold in the Ames area for $5 each.

From the end of April to early June, she has sold more than 400 jars and raised more than $5,500.

“With the COVID problems, many people aren’t getting enough oxygen,” Agnihotri said. “So we gave them the money to get oxygen concentrators.”

The money goes to two organizations helping in India: the Sehgal Foundation and Sewa USA.

Agnihotri says she gets about 80 orders a week, but it’s worth the work.

For more information, visit the Jars of Hope Facebook page.

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