By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 19, 2008 - One Florida neighborhood's younger residents recently turned a simple lemonade stand, the ages-old financial bastion of kids looking to make some pocket change, into a fundraiser to help out an area troop-support group. "I remember when I first got an e-mail saying that the children of this Wellington neighborhood wanted to hold a fundraiser to sponsor [our] 'We Care' packages by having a neighborhood lemonade stand," said Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar, executive director of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach. "These children are truly setting an example to the American public, and their humanitarian spirit is certainly a reflection on their parents and their upbringing.
"I truly hope that this sets a precedent for others in our community and throughout our country," she added. "What a terrific act of humanity and community service."
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, a supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, sends "We Care" goodie boxes to deployed servicemembers. America Supports You connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The kids distributed fliers advertising the weekend-long event along with a Forgotten Soldiers Outreach brochure.
"We had donations from sheriffs that drove by, dog walkers, joggers, landscapers and various service companies," said Sharon Boland, a neighborhood mother who helped plan the event. "Everyone was walking and talking proud."
Those who stopped by also had the opportunity to write letters for inclusion in the care packages.
The kids' efforts raised $200, which they presented to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach on Aug. 13.
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