Lemonade stands can help kids help themselves and others
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 08:56PM 
Lemonade stands are a fun summer activity that can help kids learn people and business skills while helping a good cause. Sell fresh fruit such as watermelon for a refreshing healthy treat. Lemonade stands are refreshing not just because of the namesake beverage, but because they endure as a symbol of childhood innocence and youthful ambition.
Organizations such as the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation can help kids help other kids with lemonade stands that raise money for research to fight childhood cancer.
This summer, Country Time Lemonade is supporting the foundation's efforts with its “Great American Lemonade Stand-tacular,” which asks those staffing fund-raising lemonade stands to snap a picture of themselves at their stand and upload it to Country Time's Great American Stand-tacular’s Facebook page. For every lemonade stand photo uploaded, County Time will donate $5 -- up to a total of $50,000 -- to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
According to AlexsLemonade.org, 4-year-old cancer patient Alex Scott was a small girl with a big plan to have a lemonade stand that raised money for childhood cancer research. Before passing away at the age of 8, Alex raised $1 million with the help of kids across the country. Since then, kids all over have held lemonade stands to raise more than 50 million dollars for childhood cancer research. There's more information about the foundation on its website along with a Kids Corner with a list of necessary lemonade stand supplies and other ideas, including tips for a lemonade-stand birthday party and more fund-raising activities.
To encourage maximum support for the foundation, the “Great American Lemonade Stand-tacular” offers additional tips on creating the very best lemonade stand. The downloadable “Stand Plan” includes ideas for teaching kids business basics, which it calls “lemonomics.”
Parents can help children reach their goals while also schooling them in entrepreneurship. From counting and collecting money to marketing and developing customer relationships, the “Great American Lemonade Stand-tacular” encourages a fun activity that offers many teachable moments with an opportunity to help others.
Here are some lemonade stand ideas:
Market your stand: Add a few extra personal touches such as creative banners, coasters and clever table tents to set your stand apart and give it a festive feel that will attract customers. Kids can double up the good deeds by getting supplies from A.C. Moore stores. On June 26, A.C. Moore stores nationwide will encourage kids to create lemonade stands during a free in-store crafting session from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Procedes from the sale of tote bags used in the project will benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The store will be selling numerous lemonade stand supplies, and shoppers also can donate to the foundation via the purchase of paper lemons at checkout.
Offer healthy options: Make your lemonade stand a little healthier by also selling containers filled with refreshing and nutritious fresh fruit, or blend some fresh fruit, such as watermelon, into your lemonade. Try Chunky Watermelon Lemonade or Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade.
Cake made with lemonade and pudding mixBring in baked goods: Country Time suggests stocking the lemonade stand with baked goods made from its lemonade. Options include Frosted Pink Lemonade Cookies, or slices of Lemonade Pudding Cake.
Consider the dog days: Offer a bowl of fresh water at your lemonade stand for passing pups. Dog owners will thank you.
Mix it up: No time to make lemonade from scratch? Offer a variety of Country Time flavors: Classic Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade or even Half Lemonade & Half Iced Tea. Add fun garnishes like sliced lemon to each cup. Freeze strawberries and use them in place of ice cubes. Many stand-suitable drinks can be found by clicking "Recipes" at countrytime.com.