Young Entrepreneurs Make a Difference with Lemonade Stand
On a hot summer day, nothing is more refreshing than a cool drink. For four young girls from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, that drink is lemonade — and every sip they sell helps make a positive impact in the world.
Lanier Lauten, a 10-year-old from Hattiesburg, explained that their lemonade stand is not just about selling drinks. “We’re doing a lemonade stand for Camp Mystic,” she said. The cause is close to their hearts, as Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, was severely affected by flash flooding on July 4. This tragedy has inspired the girls to take action and support those impacted by the disaster.
The group consists of three sisters and one of their friends, who have set up their lemonade stand two Sundays in a row in the Canebrake community. Despite charging only $1 per cup, many customers have been generous, often telling them to keep the change. Their small price point has not stopped them from making a big difference.
After the first week’s success, the Wood family learned that one of their neighbors had lost a family member due to the flooding at Camp Mystic. This news gave this week’s lemonade stand a new sense of purpose. “Our parents convinced us to come up with a way to give back the money we raised from the lemonade stand,” said Eleanor Wood, a 9-year-old from Hattiesburg.
At ages six, nine, ten, and eleven, the girls are no strangers to entrepreneurship. They have already shown a strong sense of responsibility and compassion. Even with their low prices, their parents say they consistently make a profit. “It feels good and it feels like the right thing to be doing,” Lauten said.
The girls have learned that making a difference doesn’t always require grand gestures. “We bring the tables, lemonade and the ice,” Lauten explained. “And the cups and the signs,” added Wood. With each cup sold, they are encouraging their neighbors and friends to contribute to a greater cause.
In just the last two weeks, the Wood sisters and Lauten have raised over $400. Of that, $350 was collected on Sunday, July 20, and will go toward helping their neighbor’s family. Additionally, their parents mentioned that donations will also be directed to other families affected by the flooding, as linked through a local news outlet in Texas.
Their efforts show that even the smallest actions can lead to meaningful change. By combining their passion for entrepreneurship with a desire to help others, these young girls are proving that kindness and generosity can make a real difference in the world.
Through their lemonade stand, they are not only raising money but also spreading awareness about the importance of community support and empathy. Their story serves as an inspiration to others, showing that anyone — no matter their age — can contribute to making the world a better place.
