When 11-year-old Vancouver resident Porsha Teo heard that the Vancouver Aquarium might be forced to close permanently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was upset.
“It really kinda saddened me because when I was little (and still now) I loved the experience there, looking at otters and enjoying the live shows,” wrote the Elsie Roy Elementary School student on her website.
Added Porsha’s dad, Luke, in a message to V.I.A., “She was really upset because she had spent many hours there with her school and us. She especially loved the otters (her favourite is Rialto) and the penguins.”
But instead of wallowing in the what-ifs, Porsha came up with a creative way to use her skills to lend a hand.
Previously, Teo had a pop-up store called “Creative Pops” where she sold felt keychains sewn into the shape of foods.
Over the past several weeks, the budding entrepreneur has instead funnelled her creativity into designing and sewing a number of felt plush toys, modelled after animals found at the Vancouver Aquarium. She’s been selling the handmade creations online (through a website she created “all by herself,” her dad explained), and donating 50 per cent of the proceeds from each sale to the Aquarium.
So far, she’s created 100 of the adorable plush creatures. Those interested can place an order for “Ollie the Octopus,” “Pierre the Penguin,” “Hardy the Otter,” and “Sid the Squid,” to name a few.
As Teo wrote, “I know it’s a small step, but any little action makes a difference, right?”
Check out Teo’s creations here, or on Facebook or Instagram @creativeblobs.
