Youths Sell Lemonade To Help Fund Good Causes

Sat., June 17, 1995

Brian Coddington Staff Writer

For Loren and Stuart Harris, raising money for charitable causes is becoming a way of life at an early age.

Weather permitting, 10-year-old Loren and 8-year-old Stuart will open their lemonade stand today in the 1000 block of South Garry Road to raise money to buy trees for soon-to-be-constructed Pavilion Park.

The Liberty Lake brothers will also be recognized nationally next week for their first experience with philanthropy, an effort to help victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

A letter accompanying the donation the boys made to the local Red Cross shortly after the April 19 bombing will be reprinted in the national newsletter published quarterly by the American Red Cross, set to be mailed early in the week.

“It was one of those letters you read and it brings tears to your eyes,” said Joyce Cameron, director of development for the Red Cross in Spokane. “I can just picture those children out on a street corner in Liberty Lake selling lemonade.”

In an effort to help victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, the young entrepreneurs set up a lemonade stand on April 23 and sent their profits - $21.59 - to the local Red Cross.

“We really enjoyed doing it,” said Loren, who just completed fourth grade at Greenacres Elementary. Stuart just finished second grade at Greenacres.

“We weren’t expecting all of this to happen,” Loren continued. “So when we got recognized, we were pretty surprised.”

The donation the Harris brothers made was not the only act of kindness the Red Cross received from young people. Cameron said kids have donated their allowance and baby sitting money to the Red Cross.

That Loren and Stuart specifically set out to make money for the Oklahoma City victims, however, set them apart from the rest, she said.

“More children need to see what’s going on in the world,” Cameron said. “Getting them involved at an early age helps make them responsible adults.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Note to the Red Cross Dear Red Cross, Stuart and I feel really bad for all of the families in the tragedy in Oklahoma City. Stuart is 8 years old and I am 10. We earned this money by having a lemonade stand. All of the money that we earned is going to Oklahoma City. We earned a total of $21.59. Sincerely, Loren and Stuart Harris P.S. We hope this will make a difference.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Note to the Red Cross Dear Red Cross, Stuart and I feel really bad for all of the families in the tragedy in Oklahoma City. Stuart is 8 years old and I am 10. We earned this money by having a lemonade stand. All of the money that we earned is going to Oklahoma City. We earned a total of $21.59. Sincerely, Loren and Stuart Harris P.S. We hope this will make a difference.