Bob's Furniture, Alex's Lemonade Stand, MHS Form Unique Venture

MANCHESTER, CT — Bob’s Discount Furniture on Wednesday unveiled what is perhaps its closest community partnership to date — An Alex's Lemonade Stand right at its corporate store.

Students from Manchester High School’s wood shop class with Mike Bergeron, and the MHS Young Men's and Women’s Leadership Groups have been working closely with Bob’s and Alex’s Lemonade Stand to build and staff an "authentic lemonade stand" to be set up outside the Bob’s corporate store in Manchester to raise money for childhood cancer causes and Bob’s Café Collections.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand is a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments and cures for all children battling cancer. Founder Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was born in Manchester Hospital, set up her first front yard lemonade stand when she was 4 to give back to those who helped while suffering from cancer.

In 2004 when Alex passed away at the age of 8, her stand had raised more than $1 million.

Alex's Lemonade Stand has since become a national charity.

Manchester Mayor Jay Moran, said with MHS students making the stand, Bob's corporate headquarters anchored in Manchester, and Alex's local ties, a tight bond has been formed.

Cathy Poulin, Bob's manager of outreach and public relations, was more animated than usual about the latest charitable partnership. She called it something "from the bottom of my heart" because of the local ties. Besides, she added, "Bob's needed a lemonade stand."

MHS officials said the project in one way to show students "what goes in in the world beyond our walls."

The stand was open Wednesday during Bob's business hours and will be open every Sunday in July from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the corporate store in Manchester. High school students tested the stand in the cafeteria this month and, along with collections from staff dress down days, MHS presented Alex's with a check for $414.

Poulin presented three Bob's Random Acts of Kindness checks at the ceremony — $1,500 to Manchester High School and $500 each to the Manchester High School Young Women’s Leadership Group and the Manchester High School Young Men’s Leadership Group.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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