LAC LA BICHE - A lemonade stand set up in a rural Lac La Biche subdivision on on Aug. 25 raised just over $500 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.
Operated by a group of local youngsters, the sale in the Young's Beach subdivision was part of a provincial initiative called Lemonade Stand Day that began in Edmonton in 2014. The Lac La Biche contributions have been served up since 2016 when youngster Arizona White and her family got involved. Sine then, Arizona and a growing number of friends have helped to raise more than $6,000 for the Stollery.
Arizona and seven of her young friends took part in this year's fundraiser. The group was serving up lemonade at one of an estimated 400 stands across the province.
Lac La Biche mom Kristen Shewchuk was one of the adults overseeing the lemonade-serving kids. She said Lemonade Stand Day across the province is sponsored by a business called Simply Supper. To date, the initiative has raised more than $2 million for the Stollery hospital.
This year's proceeds will go to the Stollery's Pediatric Diabetes Education Centre.
“The Stollery is something that is near and dear to our hearts," said Shewchuk. "Though not necessarily local, it is the closest children’s hospital to us, and many of our friends and family members have had to access the Stollery throughout their lives."
Shewchuk continued by saying that this year’s lemonade sale attracted quite a few people who stopped by for a refreshing drink. She added that the kids started with two large water jugs of lemonade that were re-filled and mixed with lemonade powder several times before they sold out.
The $500 raised during the sale will be added to donations that have also been made directly to the Lemonade Stand Day website after the last drop was poured. Shewchuk said the kids are happy to be helping other kids.
“Arizona was the first one to host a stand back in 2016 and then over the years we have been joined by many of her friends and family,” Shewchuk said.