EDITORIAL: A brighter future built on lemonade

If you happen to be driving around Kootenai County on July 20 and notice that there’s an abundance of kid-operated lemonade stands, please do two things.

Stop and buy a cup of the refreshing treat, and offer the young entrepreneurs an encouraging word.

Tips for smiles and good service surely would be welcomed.

If anybody out there is concerned about what they perceive as waves of entitled young Americans who aren’t developing the kind of work ethic and initiative they’ll need to be successful and make the world a better place, Kootenai County Lemonade Day on July 20 is going to be uplifting; not just for the critics but for the kids.

Parents and grandparents, please talk to your kids/grandkids about participating in Lemonade Day, a national event taking place in 90 locations. 

More than 1.5 million kids have benefitted from the program, taking early steps toward business know-how, personal responsibility and, not to be overlooked, the joy of feeling coins clinking in their pockets — coins that were earned, not just handed out.

Kootenai County’s fruitful goal in this, its first year in the nonprofit program, is to enlist 100 kids from kindergarten through eighth grade to participate. That seems eminently doable. 

Kids can set up their lemonade stands in neighborhoods, parks, marketplaces, places of worship, schools and other public spaces to maximize their sales opportunities. 

The organization encourages kids to spend some of their hard-earned money on themselves, save some and share some with a charity. You can easily imagine the levels of positive impact that approach will create.

Mentors are needed, so, adults, please don’t wait. To register as a mentor, go to: lemonadeday.org/kootenai-county

And to learn more about the program, check out: kootenaicounty@lemonadeday.org