Dozens of kids ventured out into the rainy weather to participate in Lemonade Day as part of an entrepreneurship experience.
If you were on the streets of Westlock on Saturday June 14, you probably saw lemonade stands posted near various stores, many selling specialized items or additional goodies. This was all part of the Lemonade Day initiative.
A nationally recognized program that teaches kids the value of starting, managing and operating their own business while also coming up with new and interesting ideas.
Some ideas included selling different flavours like the Petkau family who hosted their stand outside of the Sobeys on highway 18. They offered various flavours of lemonade including pineapple, strawberry kiwi and Pina Colada. They also added iced coffee to their menu with caramel and french vanilla flavourings.
While Lemonade Day Organization does not specify what the profit should go towards, saying in their success plan that they should “account for business results, spend some, save some, share some, contemplate their future plans.”, some people are using it to better the future of our communities.
The Petkau family will be donating their profits to the Barrhead Animal Rescue Society. While the Besties Lemonade stand hosted outside of and sponsored by the Giant Tiger in Westlock, will divide the profit between the owners Paisley Weisgerber (12) and Emily Lesyk (11), saving up for their futures in medicine. A portion of the funds will also be donated to the Westlock Food Bank, “To give food to the people that don’t have any.” says Weisgerber.
The two girls who have been best friends for years sold various items on top of lemonade, such as Chips Ahoy and Oreo muffins, bags of chips, and custom made charm bracelets.
The day is meant to encourage young people to get involved in making good financial decisions and learning about being an entrepreneur but it is also a day that, as James Rhoad put it, can be “to make money and to have fun with my friend.”
Rhoad and his friend Oliver Woynorowski set up shop outside of the Westlock Library, selling a berry lemonade that included real berries to ensure people were getting their daily dose of Vitamin C.
The sun may not have been shining but these individuals made it bright with their hard work and dedication to the Lemonade Day mantra.
