NATCHEZ — Mae Holyoak said she did not know her love of animals could earn her a letter from the White House.

For the past 10 years, since the Cathedral School freshman was 5, Mae and her mother, Virginia, have staffed an annual lemonade stand to benefit the Natchez-Adams Humane Society.

This year, Mae received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work. Along with her certificate came a letter from President Donald Trump commending her for her service.

“I didn’t think I would get anything,” Holyoak said. “It’s kind of overwhelming. I got selected from my school — which is an honor in itself, but there are just so many people who do so much more than I do.”

Holyoak said the idea for a lemonade stand came from her mother, but that they had worked together to make the operation a success.

“I think it really built my character,” Holyoak said. “I realized I’m put on this earth to help people. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Holyoak said their goal for the first year’s lemonade stand was to raise $50. They raised $300.

“It escalated really quickly,” she said.

At first, the Holyoaks set up their little stand — called Mae and Friends —  in front of Dunleith, where Mae’s father, John Holyoak, works.

Soon, however, Holyoak said she was invited to sell at the Natchez Food and Wine Festival.

In the 10 years of operation, Mae said the lemonade stand has raised approximately $50,000 for the shelter.

“It’s all for the animals,” she said. “And, you know, my love for them has only grown.”

Holyoak said her love of animals and volunteer service comes from her mother, who routinely volunteers with the humane society as well.

The Holyoaks, Mae said, own five dogs and one cat. The collection of critters began, she said, with just one family dog, but soon grew.

“We got one as a present, one we rescued, one we got from a hitchhiker from New Mexico,” she said. “It’s like an addiction; you always think you can have just one more.”

Holyoak said she might have received something else from her lemonade stand: a career.

“I’ve changed jobs so many times, but I think this will stick,” she said. “I want to go into marketing.”

Understand how and why consumers make purchasing decisions, Holyoak said, is fascinating.

“Like, people are drawn to red and what makes people look,” she said. “It interests me how the human mind works and what draws people.”

Cathedral Chief Administrator and High School Principal Norm Yvon said he was proud to have Holyoak representing Cathedral School.

“She’s a great kid and a good member of our community,” Yvon said. “I’m proud to have her here with us.”