Photo By Janecze Wright | Friends Cason Ford and Amanda Sequeira help their children Hudson Ford, 6, Gideon...... read more read more
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Harker Heights, Texas — Young entrepreneurs and their parents gathered Saturday at Heights Lumber for some expert instruction on how to construct their own lemonade stands in preparation for Lemonade Day weekend May 3-4.
Heights Lumber owner, Kelly Eakin, said the event is very near and dear to the local business, which has participated in Lemonade Day since 2014.
“This workshop is really great because the kids, when they get here, they’re able to build their stand and have it to take with them,” she said. “So, it is a really hands on event, and I think it’s great that the families get involved, and they’re able to leave here with a tangible stand that they can take home and are able to have something for their business. We love that it teaches the area kids to have something, to be entrepreneurs and have a real goal.”
Before starting to work, attendees were treated to pizza and lemonade and a step-by-step demonstration on how to construct a stand from Heights Lumber associates.
Each of the 20 stations situated throughout the business’ loading area were equipped with two pallets, boards of various sizes, a box of nails and a drill.
To construct a stand, participants were instructed to attach one pallet with the other split in two pieces and nailed on each side (creating a horseshoe shape) to create the front and sides of the stand; nail boards on top for shelves on all sides; position two longer boards in the corners where the front and sides connect to hold the final piece of wood attached at the top to represent the banner. Attendees had the choice to construct 32- or 40-inch stands.
Dustin Gilbert attended the event with his daughters Evelyn Boydston and Neriah Gilbert, both 11, and Averi Gladden, 8. Neriah attended the Little Squeezers event earlier this month and learned how to make lemonade from scratch at Chick-fil-A in Copperas Cove, and Dustin conveyed they were all excited to see the fruits of their collective labor.
“They get the experience of running a business from ground up,” he said. “It kind of gives them the design, the planning, then they get to put it into action. So, we’re looking forward to this phase where we actually get to build a stand. And then, we’re looking forward to going on to the next steps and actually seeing the plan to fruition.”
Niara Eans, whose daughter Cassidy, 9, also participated in Little Squeezers, said the event helped to broaden her daughter’s horizons.
“I like to allow my daughter to experience all different kinds of things,” she said. “She’s typically more of an artsy theater kind of person, but I want her to be able to try a lot of other types of things as well. I feel like it’s really important for their development.”
Ally Torres Olszynski, city director for Lemonade Day Fort Cavazos area, says seeing families work together is her favorite part of the event.
“It’s interactive with families, they get to work together to build a stand, so it’s a great family bonding activity,” she said.
Niara agreed, adding the event is a great way to teach business acumen.
“I love they do stuff like this for the little kids, because I have my own business as well, and I love that she’s able to do something that’s for her, but also learn of all the other things that go into having a business,” she said. “I love it. I hope they continue the program for many years to come. I think it’s essential for all the kids.”
For more information about Lemonade Day, visit local.lemonadeday.org/get-started.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2025 14:10 |
| Story ID: | 494040 |
| Location: | HARKER HEIGHTS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Build a Stand strengthens skills, character for youths at Fort Cavazos, by Janecze Wright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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