Written by Ashley Newell, the mother who helped her kids host the stand that started it all.
Lemonade stands are a rite of passage for kids. Suburban moms have been begged, at least a handful of times, by their kids to PLEASE let them do a lemonade stand. One hot summer day in May 2015, my three kids, ages 11, 9, and 6, at the time, implored me to allow them to conduct a lemonade stand. Reluctantly, I helped them gather the supplies to host our first lemonade stand. While at the local dog park selling lemonade and dog treats that day, the vision for Stand for Orphans® came to life. Stand could be a way for kids to become involved in orphan care instead of leaving that work to adults. What started as three kids convincing their mom to sell lemonade on a hot summer day has turned into a movement of youth all over the country, taking a stand for orphans.
When we involve kids in ministry from a young age, it becomes part of their spiritual DNA, which will continue to grow and develop as they mature in their faith. In a social media crazed world, we must help our children fight back against a self-consumed society. What better way to help kids stop focusing on themselves than by serving others. Lemonade stands are usually conducted for the kids to make a little money for themselves. While there is nothing wrong with this, we put a spin on a simple idea to help kids embrace the idea of hosting a stand for the benefit of others.
Serving others can also help kids find purpose. Sissy Goff, author of Raising Worry Free Girls, states that “brain activity from having a sense of purpose can help kids combat anxiety and stress, regulate anger, and ward off depression.” On their podcast titled Raising Boys and Girls, Sissy Goff and Dave Thomas comment, “We can share a sense of purpose as a family, doing something together to benefit someone else.” Yes! It’s as if they are describing Stand for Orphans.
The number of orphans in the world is vast and hard to comprehend. No one can do it all, but everyone can do something. Encouraging your kids to host their own lemonade stand is a great way to serve others because every dollar raised is used to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental needs of orphans. Use the time hosting a stand to discuss the orphan crisis and how we can all do our part to bring hope to the fatherless.
We’ve added options to increase the reach of this fundraiser including two varieties of T-shirts available for purchase. Additionally, we have several corporate sponsors including a local Chick-fil-A, Pelican’s SnoBalls, The Sweetest Booth cookie company, Lolly’s Crayons, and others. Please contact us to discuss ways your business can partner with us.
Many churches partner with us by including Stand as part of their VBS. It’s a fantastic way for kids to learn how they can become a part of the solution to the orphan crisis. Churches can show our Stand video to encourage kids to participate by selling baked goods, crafts, and lemonade. Last year our home church raised $5,000 for Stand during VBS! We need your church to partner with Stand.
Host a stand this summer at your home, church, or neighborhood park and, in the process, be a blessing to others.
Go to standfororphans.com to download your free kit! Will you join us in taking a Stand for Orphans?
“Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”- Proverbs 11:25 B