A nine-year-old student of Crosby Heights Public School has raised more than $2,000 for Youth Without Shelter by selling a computer game he created.
Described by his mother, Shelley Anand, as a technology whiz, Vivek Dhillon decided to donate the proceeds of his game to the homeless children’s shelter after a teacher inspired him to give back to his community.

Fittingly, his game, Sheep in the Desert, has players navigating a maze of cacti and crabs to help lead lost sheep to an oasis.

At first, Dhillon helped cook a dinner for the shelter, when he was eight years old, and was motivated to do more when he realized how many kids go hungry in his community. Now, he hopes to raise $6,000 more for the shelter’s food budget by selling his game and is drumming up an awareness of homelessness among his peers. He may even create a second game.

“If everyone is involved, then no one will be homeless,” wrote Dhillon in an e-mail. “The role of a community is to help each other.”

The game is available for a $10 donation at agameofhope.blogspot.ca.