Mention holding a yard sale to most 11-year-old boys, and it is likely the response will be a typical preteen eyeroll. That is not the case with New Holland Elementary School sixth-grade student Jake Delvisco. In early November, when Jake learned that his friend Chad Heagey was burned in an accident, he encouraged his mom, April, to donate to the GoFundMe page that had been set up to help cover medical expenses. But even after April donated, Jake still felt called to do more.

Chad's injuries were extensive. He suffered second- and third-degree burns, and he was initially in critical condition. Chad was airlifted from Lancaster General Hospital to the Burn Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

"I am his friend," said Jake. "I felt like I should step it up." April noted that Jake and Chad are in the same grade and that they sat together on the afternoon bus each school day.

"I got the idea of a yard sale," said Jake, who chose Nov. 16 to hold the event at the family's home in The Willows in New Holland. Jake started collecting items beginning with his own room, and soon family, extended family, friends, and other members of the community were chipping in.

April shared the date, time, and background information about the fundraising effort on her own Facebook page along with local yard sale pages, and area residents responded. "When we posted, nice people in the community donated items," shared April. "It was wonderful." April added that many people stopped by the house to say that although they could not come to the yard sale, they wanted to donate money and items. "The community was very moved by what (Jake) wanted to do for his friend," she pointed out.

Jake asked his brother, Jaxon, and cousin Londyn Hummer to help man the yard sale, and the event opened at 7 a.m. Jake said that his first customers arrived around 7:15 a.m., and that the yard sale continued until 1:30 p.m. Jake noted that many customers gave him more money than was asked for the items they purchased.

"We were blessed by the community," said April, who noted that many of those who could not be present donated electronically. In the end, Jake was able to raise more than $1,400 to help cover Chad's medical expenses.

Perhaps the best news is that Chad is responding well to his treatment. "Chad has a long road ahead, but his skin grafts have taken 100%, and there is no longer a fear of rejection," reported April, who referenced http://www.gofundme.com/f/support-chads-healing-journey for information. "(Chad) was able to come home for Thanksgiving," she added. Jake noted that he is looking forward to being able to visit Chad in the future.

Jake's efforts to help his friend did not surprise his mom. "My kids have been raised on acts of kindness," she said, noting that the family has purchased ice cream for others and provided dinners to veterans. After April's mother succumbed to leukemia, the family held a yard sale to help fight that disease.

Jake's reasoning for helping echoed the Golden Rule, which reads, "Do unto others as you would have done to you." "If this happened to me," he stated, "I would want other people to do stuff to raise money for me."