Families across Northwest Arkansas are setting up lemonade stands to support a new foster care effort in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter (NWACS) is partnering with families to host lemonade stands to raise money for its new foster care initiative, Foster for the Future.
According to shelter staff, more than 75 stands have been held in Arkansas and beyond this summer with the goal of reaching 100 by the end of the season. Families are encouraged to participate by signing up to set up their own stands or donating to local stands online.
Jessica Florer, Director of Student and Family Services at Hope Academy through the Children’s Shelter, said she has witnessed firsthand how the shelter’s work changes lives.
“Seeing the direct impact to families, the direct impact where kids’ lives are changed, and they’re starting to feel successful in life is the most impactful thing that we’ve seen,” Florer said.
Florer helped her 3-year-old grandson, Maverick, host a lemonade stand Sunday in Siloam Springs, one of many events organized to support the shelter’s growing outreach. She said the stand may not bring in major donations, but they create community awareness.
“It’s not going to raise millions like our fundraisers do, but it’s just awareness for our neighborhood,” she explained.
Florer said being part of the shelter’s work has helped her recognize how important community involvement is.
“Working at the Children’s Shelter, we get to see firsthand the needs that are there,” she said. “I’ve worked there for several years in a couple of different capacities, so getting to pour back in as a community member instead of as an employee feels really important.”
Lemonade stand kits are still available. To learn more about how to host a stand or donate to Foster for the Future program, visit nwacs.org.
