Does philanthropy have an age limit?

If you’re Lola Coutelle, the answer to that question is a resounding no.

Lola, the daughter of Geraldine and Christophe Coutelle—owners of downtown’s popular C’est La Vie restaurant—is making headlines for her eponymous market tote campaign in support of the Humane Society of Sarasota County. Lola, an animal lover, was inspired to create the tote after her elementary school class visited the Humane Society. After seeing all the animals in need of forever homes, Lola wanted to volunteer—but to do so at HSSC, you have to be at least 18 years old.

“I knew I wanted to help,” Lola says. “I had no idea how many animals need love and care and a home.”

That’s when the idea to create a tote bag came to her. In conjunction with Blue Sky Creates, a Sarasota-based marketing company, Lola and her family dreamed up the Lola Market Tote, pictured above. Designed by Noah Guy of San-Francisco-based bag purveyor Joshu + Vela and based on the tote bag created for the famous Tartine bakery, the organic cotton canvas bag will be available for purchase for $45 at C’est La Vie beginning in early February, with 15 percent of the proceeds from each bag sold benefitting the Humane Society of Sarasota County’s educational outreach programs.

C’est La Vie, 1553 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 906-9575