Do you remember running a lemonade stand when you were a kid? I do. Of course, any money that we made was less than my mom paid for the Kool-Aid and sugar that we used. Yep, lemonade without lemons. As a parent, it’s rare that I let my kids drink that stuff, but as a fundraiser it was a blast. Sunkist remembers.
They’re offering free lemonade stands (you don’t even have to pay for shipping!) for children ages 7 and 12 who want to “Take a Stand” for charity. The stand includes:
- 56”x 27” cardboard Lemonade Stand with instructions
- Citrus Peeler with instruction sheet
- Lemon Faucet with Instruction sheet
- Hand Juicer
- How to Make a Lemonade Stand Brochure
- “How to Make Fresh Lemonade” Booklet
Obviously, they want the kids to make REAL lemonade. They don’t specify which charity the money goes to, and it’s your conscience that determines whether it’s the Salvation Army or Joey’s Bike Fund. The site also offers support for your budding entrepreneur including questions designed to help him think out where the stand should be, or how she will run it. There are some excellent recipes on the site for various lemonades and fruit drinks that are good to print off even if you’re not going to get a stand. The success stories section is very inspiring, showing how kids make a difference. You never know, your own progeny could end up on their page, showing off their stand and telling about their charity.
If you don’t know of a charity offhand, Sunkist provides a list of national charities in need of funds. We use CharityNavigator before giving to a charity. It will tell you where their expenses are. For us, a charity that spends a lot on advertising is less attractive than one who spends the lion’s share on programs. Whichever charity you choose, Sunkist can help your child make a difference.