Chilliwack residents are chipping in to help the family of a baby girl who was badly burned over the weekend after knocking a crockpot full of boiling stew onto her body.

Eleven-month-old Avarie Edwards was out for dinner with her parents Tia and Taylor Saturday night when she pulled on the crockpot’s cord.

“She’s just at the age where she’s started to pull herself up on everything,” family friend Jeanette Bollinger told CTV News. “So she reached up and grabbed the cord and pulled the crockpot down on top of her head.”

The unfortunate toddler suffered second-degree burns all over her head, back and arms. She was rushed to Chilliwack General Hospital, but the family was told she would be better cared for at the BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

“[Tia] texted me when she was in the ambulance and she was completely hysterical,” Bollinger said. “When Avarie was in pain, her mom was singing to her and Avarie was trying to clap her hands. She’s an amazing mother.”

Though the baby girl has since returned home, Bollinger said the family must now bring Avarie to Vancouver every three days for at least three more weeks for burn baths and dressing changes.

On top of caring for their recovering child, the weekly travel expenses and the potential for lost work has put more stress on the girl’s parents, whom Bollinger said worry about making rent.

That’s why Bollinger has organized a fundraiser for Oct. 5, three days after Avarie’s first birthday, to help out.

She said the response so far has been inspiring.

“It’s been amazing so far. I started the Facebook page for Avarie on Saturday night and we’ve grown to 563 members,” she said. “And [Tia] is so, so grateful for everything that’s being done.”

The event is being held at the Jolly Miller Pub beginning at 6 p.m., and will feature a silent auction and 50/50 draw. Organizers will be collecting donations for Avarie’s family, as well as packaged toys to be donated to the hospital.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 604-799-3770 in Chilliwack or 778-908-5626 from any other area of Metro Vancouver.