Ziyana Moledina has found the perfect recipe for helping:

鈥淐ocoa powder, sugar and salt 鈥� but just a pinch of salt, otherwise it鈥檚 too salty,鈥� the nine-year-old said, listing off ingredients for the homemade hot chocolate that鈥檚 helped her raise $3,000 for children and refugees in war-torn countries.

Ziyana, in Grade 4 at Southridge School, began her tradition of setting up a hot chocolate stand t the end of her South Surrey driveway every Oct. 31 three years ago.

Her mom, Zehra, recalls Ziyana initially asked to host a summer lemonade stand because she wanted 鈥渢o raise money for orphans,鈥� but life got busy and the idea never came to fruition.

But Ziyana didn鈥檛 give up, and the idea for a hot chocolate stand during prime trick-or-treating hours was born.

鈥淚 kept talking about lemonade stand, lemonade stand, lemonade stand,鈥� Ziyana told Peace Arch News last week.

鈥淣ow, I鈥檝e been doing this for three years and I鈥檝e raised about $3,000.鈥�

Days ahead of time, Ziyana goes with her dad to deliver flyers around the neighbourhood to promote her fundraiser, then prepares a banner and other decorations for the stand itself.

On the big day, she brews the drink, dons a costume and, with the help of her younger siblings Armaan and Aila, and under mom鈥檚 supervision, offers the sweet concoction at 25 cents per cup for trick-or-treaters, and by-donation for adults.

When she started out, Ziyana set a goal to raise $1,000 for Child Aid International, a Canadian charity focused on helping orphans.

The first year, her effort raised $524 鈥� including $100 that was donated by a classmate鈥檚 parent following a school presentation Ziyana did about her fundraising project.

Last year, with no time for advance promotion, she collected $200.

This year, not only were 250 flyers distributed ahead of time, but the availability of the tasty beverage, along with details of where donations would go 鈥� and a link to the charity itself 鈥� was posted to Facebook. A prize draw was also added, to sweeten the pot.

The result was better than expected 鈥� just over $2,000.

鈥淎t the stand alone, cash that came in鈥� was $326,鈥� Zehra told PAN the day after Halloween.

鈥淎nd then she got a whole bunch of donations because we posted on Facebook. And, she got a matching donor.

鈥淪he was ecstatic this morning.鈥�

Ziyana described the funds raised as 鈥済reat.鈥�

鈥淭he more money I get, the more money goes to the children and refugees.鈥�

The donations, she said, will help build a home in for five siblings whose parents were killed in war.

It should be no surprise that Ziyana is no stranger to helping. In kindergarten, she donated her hair to , a charity that aims to improve the quality of life for kids dealing with cancer.

And if someone gets hurt at school, 鈥淚 reassure them.鈥�

Zehra said her family also participates in 鈥渁ll sorts鈥� of charitable work with their mosque, the Az-Zahraa Islamic Center in Richmond.

Asked if she has plans for more fundraising, Ziyana鈥檚 response was decided:

鈥淚鈥檓 just sticking to this one,鈥� she said.