ANAHEIM, Calif. – The nationwide outcry sparked by the death of George Floyd has impacted people in different ways.

For one 11-year-old from Anaheim, it has been an eye-opening experience that inspired him to raise money to support the Black Lives Matter Foundation.

What started out as a lesson on the value of a dollar, turned into a deeper cause for Nathan Contreras, who began selling chili-covered candy to his mom’s friends last week.

“To be honest, I wanted to buy a new keyboard to upgrade my gaming set up,” said Contreras.  

When Contreras asked his mom for the keyboard, she told him he had to earn it.  

While watching the news with his parents, Contreras had a change of heart and told them he wanted to donate everything he made this week to support Black Lives Matter Global Network.

“I saw everything happening, and I was like, you know, maybe I can help put a stop to it – just donate some money and help,” Contreras said.

Contreras sells his candy in 8 oz. mason jars for $6. As of Friday, he had donated $210 from his proceeds, which he says may not be a lot, but it is his way of taking action.

“When all of this stops, I’m going to remember in my head that I can be a little part of the reason that this all stopped,” Contreras said.

The soon-to-be seventh-grader remembers learning about race and the civil rights movement when he was in second grade, but says he thought it was an issue of the past.

“It makes me feel sad because none of this racism should be happening again,” said Contreras.

Contreras, who is an aspiring professional soccer player, has a different goal in mind these days and says he feels grateful for all the people who are helping him reach it.  

“The way I see it, if I were in a soccer game right now, I know that to be able to win, we need to stick together and that’s what’s happening right now. We need to stick together and love each other,” said Contreras.

Contreras thanks his parents for teaching him love, and says that through his love of sweets, he hopes he can do a small part to help end racism in his own community.

To support Contreras’s candy business, visit his Instagram page: @nathan.dulces.enchilados or email his mom at cindyarely07@gmail.com.