Reaction To Theft From Bergen County Lemonade Stand Inspires Sen. Booker

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — After someone stole $40 from two kids' lemonade stand in Hasbrouck Heights on Aug. 18, the children were shocked and teary-eyed. But the community came together to cheer them up — and this weekend, a U.S. senator took note.

It all started with a boy and girl were selling lemonade on their block last month.

Chapel D. Lighty, 35, of Bishopville, S.C., was walking by. He took the container of cash and left, police said.

According to a video that U.S. Senator Corey Booker posted on social media, the children were upset, and their mom called police.

According to Captain John Behr, the suspect took off on foot. "This brought all available Hasbrouck Heights Patrol officers and detectives into the area for the search," Behr said.

Police obtained video from a nearby business and were able to catch the man, who was also wanted to Garfield, police said. He was taken to the Bergen County jail.

In a video, the children's mother, Annetta Caldwell, said she asked the kids if they wanted to set up another stand "because I didn't want them to be afraid of doing them."

The community showed up. More than 600 people came to their next lemonade stand. One man who accidentally left without paying came back with an extra $20.

Sen. Booker wrote, "Here is what it looks like to turn darkness into light. Someone stole from these children. Then a community showed up, rallied around them, and overwhelmed their lemonade stand with generosity and love."

But the best lesson came from the kids and their mom, Booker said.

"Guided by their mother, they wrote a letter forgiving the person who stole from them," Booker wrote. "They chose to release the weight of anger and answer wrongdoing with grace.

"This is the miraculous alchemy of goodness: turning hurt into healing, cruelty into community, and a painful moment into a powerful testament to our shared humanity."