The Sweetest Idea  

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland (Achieve3000, February 20, 2019). Who says you have to be an adult to start your own business? Bella Berrellez proves them all wrong. At 11 years old, she's a full-fledged entrepreneur, and all because she saw a problem and wanted to help.

Bella launched her business, called Bella's Sweet Scrubs, in early 2019 on Etsy. (That's a website where people can sell just about anything that's homemade.) Those "sweet scrubs" are actually sugar scrubs. But Bella's not running a bakery; her products fall under the category of skin care. Made of organic sugar, organic oils, and organic dye, Bella's sugar scrubs are designed to be rubbed onto skin. The roughness of the sugar removes dead skin cells and softens the skin. There are no gigantic machines doing the work. Bella herself makes each batch of sugar scrub to order.

Wondering who would want to buy sugar scrub? Lots and lots of people, actually. Sugar scrubs are very trendy, and that's good for business. Great entrepreneurs find a need and fill it, and that's just what Bella's done. In the first two weeks, Bella sold more than 400 jars at $7 a pop. Take a minute to do the math. Then think about what you'd do with all that money!

Many people start businesses to make cash for themselves. But Bella had a different purpose in mind. When she started Bella's Sweet Scrubs, the U.S. government had shut down because of disagreements among leaders. During the shutdown, thousands of government workers stopped getting paid. Among them was Bella's mother. Bella hoped her new business would help her family make ends meet during the shutdown.

Eventually, Bella decided to use the profits in a few ways: She would help her family, help keep the business going, and help others outside her family.

"My family is OK, and now I [feel] really, really happy and really good," Bella said. "And now I'm…also donating my money to Nourish Now."

Nourish Now is an organization that collects food from donors like restaurants and gives it to families in need. The organization also accepts money from the community. And that's where Bella came in.

"It's amazing to see people from all ages, especially as young as Bella, trying to step forward and help her family out," said David Joffee, chief program officer at Nourish Now. "It's just admirable what she is doing."

And although the government shutdown ended on January 25, 2019, Bella's business is still going strong. After all, there's always someone who needs help. And the kid with a head for business and a heart of gold has gotten others to do their part.

Many people bought jars of sugar scrub to show their support during the government shutdown. Sixteen-year-old Lataija Bonner was one of them.

"I send kudos to her," said Bonner. "I know a few young kids that are doing what she's doing. I'm really proud of her."

Voice of America contributed to this story.

select the letter of the correct answer. 

 

Based on the Article, which best replaces the question mark in the diagram above?  ______

A. Bella Berrellez wanted to help her family make ends meet during a government shutdown.

B. Bella Berrellez wanted to become wealthy and well known at a young age.

C. Bella Berrellez wanted to launch a website that was better than Etsy.

D. Bella Berrellez wanted to raise money to help the organization Nourish Now.

Suppose you were writing a summary of the Article. Which of these would be most important to put in the summary? ______

A. Bella's sugar scrubs are designed to be rubbed onto skin to remove dead skin cells and leave skin feeling soft.

B. Eleven-year-old Bella Berrellez helped her family by launching a successful business called Bella's Sweet Scrubs.

C. Sixteen-year-old Lataija Bonner bought products from Bella's Sweet Scrubs to show her support during the government shutdown.

D. Etsy is a website where people can start a business selling homemade items, just as Bella Berrellez did.

 

The reader can tell from the Article that ____

A. David Joffee probably believes that Bella Berrellez should spend more time with her friends and less time running a business.

B. Bella Berrellez was probably disappointed that the government shutdown ended because her family no longer needed her help.

C. Bella Berrellez probably believes that being part of a family is one of the most important things in life.

D. David Joffee was probably not aware of the effects of the government shutdown on families until he met Bella Berrellez.

Which of these is a statement of opinion? _____

A. Thousands of workers stopped getting paid during a government shutdown that ended on January 25, 2019.

B. Bella Berrellez is someone who other young people would be wise to take after in their own lives.

C. An organization named Nourish Now collects food from restaurants and accepts money for families in need.

D. Bella Berrellez sold more than 400 jars of sugar scrub, priced at $7 each, in just two weeks.