A'Layah's Lemonade for Love

It all started when my children and I were out trolling garage sales for some new fun stuff to play with on our Saturday morning.  We came upon a lemonade stand that some local teenagers were putting on to raise money for one of their quincenera.  The teens didn’t have enough money for their dresses and tuxes.  My daughter (5 years old) being the inquisitive one, started asking me about why I gave them money and what did I buy.  I told her that they were selling lemonade to raise money for kids who didn’t have any pretty dresses so I bought some to contribute.  She wanted to know alllll about lemonade stands so I showed her some youtube videos to explain how it worked.  She instantly had an idea of doing one of her own and helping other kids.  She said she wanted to buy toys for kids… FOSTER kids in particular!  Once being a foster kid herself, she recalled back when her and her brother were entering into my home for their “trial adoption” as the state calls it.  She had been previously placed with a foster family that bought her things and sent with her when she came to us.  Her younger brother however… came with NOTHING!  He had a tiny box with one outfit and a pair of shoes that were too small for his little feet and the clothes he wore on him at the time.  She talked about how sad that made her and that she wanted to raise money like the teenagers did so that ALL the foster kids would each have one toy to play with until they found their forever mom.  And so… the journey began!

 

After the first lemonade stand we counted up the money she raised (Of course I purchased the mixes and lemons and her Granny and JimPaw donated the cups and ice) she had raised $132 total!!!  She was so excited as most of it was in $1 bills so she could actually see the bills piled up and could imagine what that meant for “her foster kids”.  She decided that she wanted to buy the kids bibles and toothbrushes too since she never had a bible till a little lady from church gave her one after she came to our home. 

 

After a week or two of searching the internet and different stores to try and find the best deals on things… we were able to finally agree on a toy.  I got everything ordered and you should have seen that little angel’s face when she opened her first shipment of little “cuddly bears” that she picked out!  She was so excited she was speechless for a few moments!  We are now waiting on the bibles and the toothbrushes to come in and A’Layah will be able to make her very first drop off to the local DHS for children in foster care!!!!

 

Before we even have made our first donation drop off A’Layah had decided she wanted to do another lemonade stand and buy more kids a “love package”!  We were able to get each child a drawstring denim backpack, a stuffed bear, a bible and a toothbrush all for the cost of $10 for each child.  Our first donation will be for 24 children!!!!  With over 400,540 children in foster care… we have our work cut out for us!!!  I want to continue to embrace her little generous spirit the Lord has blessed her with as long as possible and pray it sticks with her throughout her life.  Please consider donating to my sweet girl’s little ministry… It only takes $6 to bless one of these sweet unfortunate children in foster care!