By Terra Avilla
Ahh sweet, sweet summertime. And nothing is more synonymous with summer than kids, fun and their lemonade stands.
This past week, after WEEKS of asking if they could do a stand, I finally relented and told my two girls that they could try out their entrepreneurial skills and set one up.
We have a Disney Trip coming up, and their “wish list” for things they want to buy at Disney is growing longer and longer. To be fair, their “wants” are really just a list of people to buy gifts for such as their teachers, cousins and of course for Uncle Michael Haldane, however I told them they would need to save their own money if they wanted to buy souvenirs or extras, which led to us their idea for a lemonade stand.
Pearl insisted on selling cookies at the stand, which actually turned out to be a great idea, and Peach suggested having a strawberry lemonade option (that sold out quickly).
We spent the morning squeezing lemons, and the two of them and I discussed the cost to start the stand, and what would be a good price to sell their goods. We headed off to tennis courts and we were in business.
What I love about our community was exemplified 100x over as I sat and watched our community interact with my girls.
They stood (well Pearl sat on the curb) on the corner holding their sign, and within minutes had their first customer. Then… came the steady onslaught of our community.
Motorists and pedestrians alike stopped, honked, or gave whatever change they had (not accepting a cookie or drink-just wanting to support the cause).
You know – if you want to see all your favorite people, I highly recommend sitting on the corner of North Street and Weatherlow. In the span of an hour and half I got to see Jayson Vial, the girls and Lassen Youth and Prevention, Shay Moore, Glenn Schall, Dante Valegra, Jessica Meanor, Kim Warren, Christi Myers, Jessica Scroggins and so many more!
Not to mention, my daughters’ favorite part – seeing the SPD officers stop by! Customer after customer being so patient as Peach counted money and poured the lemonade.
She of course, shooed me away, because, don’t you know? She’s a big girl and can do it by herself.
Every single customer was so sweet and so, so patient!
The generosity if our community never ceases to amaze me. Lowgan Fisher showed up to say hi to his adopted little sister and provided a way too generous tip! (So, did Coach Casey Lee and Mr. Hoffman!) My girls’ eyes getting huge, thinking of all the Disney Candy they are going to buy.
People from everywhere, asking what the girls were raising money for, and then digging in their wallets and purses, most without even accepting any sort of treat in return! One worker pulled over simply to provide the girls with a five-dollar bill on her way to work at the casino.
So many “customers” saying that they just can’t refuse to support little kids trying to earn money. I must have heard that statement a dozen times yesterday and it made my heart melt every time.
Thank you just isn’t enough. Yes, it taught my girls some principles of business, supply and demand, advertising, etc. However, really what it showed them is how sweet and generous our community is. Perfectly highlighted on a Monday afternoon.
Kindness from people they knew and so much kindness from people they didn’t.
Two little boys scooted by and said they didn’t have any money. Peach asked if she could just give them something, and I told her it was her stand, and she could do what she wanted.
After offering the boys (maybe nine or ten years old) they refused to take anything for free and said they would go home and get some money and pay, which they did. It’s just our community, our wonderful, wonderful community.
So, thank you to everyone who came out, honked, waved, etc. to my little, junior business woman, for helping me show them, why I love where we live.
