TERRE HAUTE —
Hundreds of local youth found the sunshine a little sweeter Saturday, selling lemonade from stands throughout town.
Nearly 300 students participated in Terre Haute’s inaugural Lemonade Day project, part of a national program designed to help kids learn about entrepreneurship. Founded in 2007 by Indiana State University alumnus Michael Holthouse, the idea has grown from his Houston home to 40 cities across the country, with participants encouraged to donate a portion of their earnings to charity.
In addition to operating a lemonade stand for the day, participants organized their own marketing plans and product offerings, competing with each other as they vied for the attention of thirsty customers.
And it was hard to miss Otis Gilbert that morning, afternoon or evening.
The 9-year-old Dixie Bee student had three locations running Saturday, starting out at First Financial Bank near Springhill from 9 a.m. to noon before moving to Walgreens on U.S. 41 until 3 p.m., then on to Beef O’Brady’s through 6 p.m.
He said he hoped to “make more money” by putting the strategy of shifting locations throughout the day into action.
By noon, Gilbert had already earned $249 at the First Financial Bank location, and he gave the entirety of that to the Terre Haute Humane Society in the name of his charity of choice, “Archer” — a dog recently featured in local media as the victim of a burning. Gilbert said he wanted his money to go toward Archer’s care and treatment.
Meanwhile, six adult family members were all dressed in yellow, as was Gilbert, who stood behind bright yellow table cloths, banners and signs, all emblazoned with “Otis’s Fresh Lemonade.” The operation also featured cookies for a quarter each.
Courtney Richey, director of graduate admissions at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, primary sponsor of the event, said the inaugural program was a booming success.
“It was great. We saw so much creativity,” she said. Participants must submit their business result forms by Friday, and sponsors will judge the numbers, with a winner declared by early June. That winner will get a spot as the lone lemonade stand at the Downtown Block Party on Aug. 25, Richey said.
Logan Walters already has the sign made.
Holding a wooden oval with “Logan’s Lemonade — Est. 2012,” the 12-year-old South Vermillion Middle School student was camped out at the exit of Deming Park. Surrounded by his family, he wore his Boy Scout Troop 463 shirt while shouting “Lemonade” to passing vehicles.
“It’s going to my ISA account,” the Clinton resident said, explaining his fundraising efforts are hoped to pay for scout camp this year.
His father, Chad Boes, said the family had originally planned to participate in the Indianapolis Lemonade Day event, but when they learned of it coming to Terre Haute, opted to stay closer to home.
“They’ve been doing pretty well,” he said of the day’s take.
In addition to regular lemonade, Walters offered pink and sugar-free varieties, as well as lemon slices. Large cups cost $1.75, mediums were $1 and smalls were 75 cents, with bottled water available for $1 and re-fills for 50 cents.
Inside Mogger’s Brewery on Poplar Street, 6-year-old Kaelynn Stallard had the crowd thinking pink with her theme of breast cancer awareness.
“It’s been really good,” the DeVaney Elementary School student said that afternoon, surrounded by signs advertising her wares. “A lot of people have been coming in.”
In addition to pink lemonade at $1 per cup, Stallard was selling bags with two cookies for $1, and $1 raffle tickets for a massage at Elements Spa. Nestled in behind her stand, the first-grader admitted a little technical difficulty in operating her lemonade dispenser
“I didn’t expect that this thing would get plugged up, and then it started running and wouldn’t stop,” she said, flipping the handle back and forth, explaining the volume of mix and water. “I didn’t expect that.”
Her mother, Sarah, said restaurant patrons had been great all day.
“She’s doing really well,” she said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Pet friendly: Otis Gilbert III collects cash for an injured dog at his collection point at Walgreen's near U.S. 41 and Johnson Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
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Lemon green: Logan Walters was selling lemonade in Deming Park on Saturday.
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Pink lemonade: Kaelynn works the Think Pink Lemonade stand inside Mogger's on Saturday afternoon.
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Lemonade: South Vermillion student Logan Walters and Madisyn Richardson invite passing traffic in Deming Park to stop and purchase lemonade.
Discussion
300 kids enter the business world
Terre Haute takes part in Lemonade Day to help kids learn about entrepreneurship
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