The Little Summer Lemonade Stand

THE LITTLE SUMMER LEMONADE STAND

Little did they know, that their little lemonade stand would help so many people.

Here is the story surrounding “The Little Summer Lemonade Stand” and the Orland Township

Food Pantry donation by Evan Bianco (3 years old), Finn O'Connor (6 years old), Anna Bianco (7 years old), Mackenzie O’Connor (9 years old) and Lily Molloy (10 years old):

"The children (Evan, Finn, Anna, Mackenzie and Lily) are all neighbors living in the Olde Mill subdivision in Orland Park,” said Kathy Bianco. One day this summer, they decided to start a lemonade stand for fun. "It was a hot day, and before they knew it, many of he construction workers and laborers working on several of the homes in the neighborhood headed over for a cool drink." "The kids brought out the lemonade stand several more times over the summer." " The kids felt that in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday the best thing to do was to donate their earning to the food pantry knowing the money was going to a local cause."

Kathy, her neighbor Rob O’Connor and the children dropped by the Orland Township office on Friday, November 18 around 4PM in the afternoon and donated $63.28 to the Orland Township Food Pantry. A warm feeling swept through the entrance way, with the innocence of goodness and well being touching those in the front lobby.

According to Kathy, it was Rob who helped make the lemonade too. Let’s just say the parents oversaw the thirst quenching operation, nothing more.

“Initially, I think all the kids thought that all their friends would drop by the lemonade stand but a majority of the people that came by were all the construction workers and it just kind of took off from there,” said Rob O’Connor.

The values and efforts shared by the children were teamwork, togetherness and giving back.

“It was really something to watch,” added Rob. “They would recruit, they would advertise, go door to door, they really had a strong desire to do a good job.” “One would handle the cash register, one would pour the lemonade, one would hold the sign up, and it was a nice team effort.” “They always played well together and doing this just seemed to work out great.”

Mackenzie, also donated to the Food Pantry last year, when it was her birthday, so it was let’s just keep a good thing going.

This group of kids making a commitment to “The Little Summer Lemonade Stand”, donating down the road to the Orland Township Food Pantry was certainly a refreshing story in many ways as well as keeping the good thing going. Thanks to the Bianco and O’Connor families for your generous contributions and for making a difference in the lives of our community.

Photo:

*Caption: Back Row (Left to Right)- Mackenzie O’Connor (9 years old), Lily Molloy (10 years old), Anna Bianco (7 years old)

Front Row (Left to Right)- Finn O’Connor (6 years old), Evan Bianco (3 years old) of Orland Park donated 63.28 to the Orland Township Food Pantry on Friday, November 18, from a Lemonade Stand they set up in the Summer.

Joe Snaidauf/Orland Township Public Relations, Community Outreach Coordinator