When life gives you lemons: Alberta kids raise funds for children’s hospital with Lemonade Stand Day
Posted Aug 27, 2022 3:44 pm.
Last Updated Aug 27, 2022 4:48 pm.
Kaitlyn Graham spent much of her childhood at Edmonton’s Stollery Hospital.
The 11-year-old was born with a heart defect. Over the years, she’s needed three heart surgeries and two eye surgeries.
So it made sense for Kaitlyn to want to give back.
The youngster going into Grade 7 this year is showing her thanks by raising thousands of dollars through her lemonade stand.
It’s part of the ninth annual Lemonade Stand Day in Alberta, where kids from all over the province set up stands offering the refreshing drink.
On Sunday, 415 lemonade stands are expected to pop up across Alberta.
The proceeds go to Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“It’s about supporting the Stollery because everything I’ve been through, they’ve helped me through it, so we’re just trying to give back to them,” said Kaitlyn.
For the event’s founder, the saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” sums up the day nicely for her.
“A lot of our junior lemon squeezers – as we call them – have spent time at the Stollery and have felt like they were handed lemons at one point, and so we just want to show them when life does give you that, you just make lemonade,” said Monita Chapman.
“And it’s so simple and so easy, and so heartwarming and fun to see the kids set up and hosting lemonade stands.”
Chapman says they’re expecting more than 1,400 junior lemon squeezers out on Sunday selling lemonade, baked goods and other treats.
Their goal is to raise more than $210,000 for the Stollery in one day.
Kaitlyn says it’s a no-brainer why people should come out and buy a glass of lemonade and treats on what’s excepted to be a sunny day in Edmonton.
“Well it’s going to a good cause, it’s not just going to my pocket!” said the 11-year-old.
Added her mom Shawna Graham: “These kids are amazing. They put a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of heart into their stands.”
A map of all the participating lemonade stands is available online.
