Business savvy starts early for some folks, maybe. And real talk: Lemonade is amazing. It's got a mellow sweetness with that refreshing zing of citrus. However, when most young children flip a few boxes to DIY a stand to sell the stuff, they hope to earn enough for say, an ice cream cone. Or what do kids like these days? iPads? Anyway, this young Tampa area girl is selling lemonade to raise money to build her family a home.
In Spring 2013, an electrical fire believed to have started in the garage broke out in the De La Sala home, completely destroying it. The De La Sala father, Joe, says a contractor on the job originally quoted about eight months for the construction to wrap. However, two years later, the family is still set up at a temporary apartment—and as of December last year, the insurance payments bottomed out, leaving the family responsible for both a rent and a mortgage. The family's fourth grader, Alyssa, stepped up to the plate with the very real idea to launch a profiting lemonade stand. Joe says Alyssa wrote to a national radio show, The Kane Show, to ask if they'd advertise her modest business venture. They obliged and on Saturday alone, her efforts raised $10,000. The family also set up a GoFundMe to collect more money for a new home:
The De La Salas received $1,000 in donations alone, and some cups went for as much as $500. That's gotta be some mighty fine lemonade. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office helped out, too, organizing efforts by way of donations for the family from places like Whole Foods, Lowes, and Dunkin' Donuts (obvs).
Alyssa's hustle paid off and the family couldn't be more thankful. Or floored. "I was totally amazed by the turnout," Joe said. "There are a lot of people who are in a lot worse situations, but to see people still come out and support us for what we're going through, it's really amazing. I'm at a loss of words."
No kidding. Get a load of the haul HSCO and the surrounding area pulled off for the De La Salas:
And check out Alyssa's killer styling of the booth itself. She's pretty much a fourth-grade visionary and her family must be so proud of her:
If you'd like to donate to the new De La Salas home, you can visit their GoFundMe page and make a contribution. Way to go, Alyssa! You're an inspiration, seriously.
Image: Monkey Business/Fotolia
