This summer a terrible tragedy hit our country. Hurricane Katrina terrorized the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. We watched the news in horror as we saw our fellow Americans suffering. We decided to give up the last weekend of freedom before school to do something to help out. We gathered a group of our close friends to raise money and help the people who can't help themselves.
The group got together out in front of our friend's house and set up a small stand of lemonade and cookies. The price was up to them as we came across a very generous bunch of people. From Mercedes to Toyotas to police cars, everyone wanted to help. In only two short days we raised $1,710. Some donations were smaller than others but every penny counted. Some people didn't even take any refreshments. One very generous man took out a large duffel bag full of quarters and shoveled three hand fulls into our collection box. We watched in awe as almost 160 dollars spilled out. It is amazing how so many people just on one street wanted to help. We thank them all.
When the two of us came up with this idea we never even imagined the amazing outcome and we never could have done it without the tireless efforts of our friends and families.
--Olivia Owen and Hannah Adelstein, Age 13
I did the lemonade stand because I wanted to help the people in New Orleans, because they lost their future. We can help bring that back.
-- Louisa Owen, Age 10
I wanted to help the people in New Orleans and Mississippi because this happened to Americans just like us...it made me see that this could happen to anyone."
--Tori Eisenstadt, Age 13
You can either sit around and wonder why nobody's helping or you can go out and help. There are people who are dying in the streets. You expect to see this in a third world country, but not in our country, America, one of the richest countries in the world. We decided to help because it seemed there was no help coming to these fellow Americans who needed everything. Why were these people left this way? This was the least we could do.
-Joey Donenfeld age 13
I've been watching the hurricane footage on TV and it seems to be getting worse and worse. I saw all the pictures of dead bodies floating in water on the front pages of the newspapers. When my friends called me and told me they were having a lemonade/cookie/brownie stand to raise money for hurricane victims, I thought of it as an opportunity to help the people of Louisiana and Mississippi. I called up two other friends to help because I figured the more people, the more commotion, the more customers. I was one of the people standing on the corner, screaming and waving and holding up big signs to get people's attention. We got a lot of reactions, some being a honk, a wave, a peace sign, thumbs up, or people pulling over and handing us $1, $5, $10, even $20 and $100 bills.
-Maddie Watkins, Age 13
I did the lemonade stand for the hurricane victims because I don't always get a chance to help people so far away, and it feels good to be a part of something that will hopefully better the lives of so many.
-Bijou Karmen, Age 13
I want to help them [the people of New Orleans] survive.
--Brandon Smith, Age 11
I am so amazed at how much the community of Brentwood has contributed to helping out the survivors of the hurricane.
-- Evan Smith, Age 14
