Kyleigh Boone is proving that selling pecan pies can benefit combat-wounded veterans.
The 13-year-old from Paragould, Arkansas has been baking and selling the pies to benefit her local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for the past four years.
“My dad is a Purple Heart veteran, and that had a big influence on me,” she said.
Kyleigh’s baking chops first brought her fame at the Greene County Fair, where her pecan pie recipe earned her a first place ribbon about four years ago.
That same year, Kyleigh and her family were also working a fair booth to raise money for their softball team, Next to them were representatives from Northeast Arkansas’ Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 708.
Kyleigh soon decided to bake and sell the pies during the holiday season to benefit the combat-wounded veterans' group.
“They deserve more than what we can give them,” she said of the veterans.
That first year, Kyleigh raised $2,000 for the group and decided that her pie sale would become an annual tradition. She’s baked over 300 pies and last year raised $6,800.
“She’s got a big heart,” said Kyleigh’s mom, Sydney Stevens, of her daughter.
The pies cost $15 each and are available for delivery or pickup in Paragould, Rector, Piggott, and Pocahontas, Arkansas. Each pie also comes with the name of an area veteran to give thanks for this holiday season.
Reach Julia LeDoux: Julia@connectingvets.com
Want to get more connected to the great stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
