Alexis' Lemonade Stand: Small Change Buys Big Benefit

By Susan Bush
07:50PM / Saturday, June 23, 2007

Alexis Lesure sold lemonade during the June 23 QuitLinks carnival. All proceeds are earmarked for a Big Brothers/Big Sisters youth mentoring program. [Photo by Sue Bush]

North Adams - Alexis Lesure, 9, was one of about 200 children attending today's REACH Community Health Foundation QuitLinks carnival at the Western Heritage Gateway Park but she wasn't roaming the grounds and enjoying the games and performances.

A Grin And A Mission

Armed with a happy grin and a mission, the Adams resident operated a "Lexie-Lou's Lemonade" stand erected to raise revenues for the Berkshire region Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Specifically, the $.25 generated by each cup of lemonade sold was destined to benefit a mentoring program that matches elementary school students with high school students. Alexis participated with the program during the 2006-07 school year and was paired with Berkshire Arts and Technology charter school student Mickey Crews.

The experience was great, said Alexis, and she emphasized that other children should have the same mentoring opportunity as she did.

"I really liked it," she said. "I like that I got to meet a lot of friends."

So when life, via a cardboard lemonade stand giveaway, offered an opportunity to make - and sell - lemonade, Alexis said she couldn't refuse.

Willing To Work

As the mentoring program progressed, the "littles" and their "bigger mentors" captured many moments in photographs but the camera that was used produced less than ideal images, Alexis said.

"So one thing I want to do is get a digital camera [for the program]," she said. "And I want to be able to take field trips."

Alexis hopes to raise $500 for the group by summer's end. QuitLinks carnival sales generated $66 in revenues for the program.

Alexis said she would like to continue raising money for the program and if invited, she will operate her lemonade stand at upcoming community events. Those who would like to include Alexis and the lemonade stand at community events may contact BBBS Program Coordinator Sarah Kline at 413-663-7588.

Active At HVHS And Monument Mountain High Schools

Big Brother/Big Sister high school mentoring programs are active at the Hoosac Valley High School and the Monument Mountain High School. HVHS students and C.T. Plunkett Elementary School students met at the Adams Youth Center, while the Monument Mountain students met with Muddy Brook Elementary School students at the Southern Berkshire Community Center. Mentors help out with homework, play games and share activities and snacks, and occasionally go out on filed trips. One particularly enjoyable past trip involved a visit to the Pizza House in Adams. While there, the students were able to make their own pizza, said Kline.

The mentoring program is open to additional Berkshire high schools. High school administrators interested in acquiring additional information about the mentoring program may contact Kline or BBBS Director Kim Blair at 413-443-9471.

Helping Out Never Tasted So Good...

A youth mentoring program benefit dinner /silent auction is scheduled for June 27 at Eastover Resort in Lenox. Tickets are $50 each and include a surf and turf dinner. Cocktails will be served beginning at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.. Raffles will be conducted and prizes include Red Sox baseball tickets, dinner for two once a month for 12 months at the Asters, a gas grill, and a 50/50 cash prize.

Tickets are available and may be acquired by calling 413-663-7588 or 413-443-9471.

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or 413-663-3384 ext. 29.