Local youth sets up lemonade stand to raise money for homeless
First-grader at Evangel Christian Academy, Alyssa Hagedorn, is setting up a lemonade stand May 3, National Lemonade Day, in the parking lot of Remington College with hopes to donate her earnings to three local homeless shelters: The Hub: Urban Ministries, Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission and HOPE for the Homeless.
In March, 6-year-old, Alyssa, asked her mom, Alisha Hagedorn, to help her brainstorm ideas to help raise money for local homeless organizations. Their church, Shreveport Community Church, surpassed a goal set to donate toward world missions, and Alyssa was inspired by the $900,000 their congregation was able to give to help others.
She began brainstorming ways she would raise money for the homeless. The thought of someone not having a home to go to at night first moved Alyssa to set up an art stand in her front yard where she sold paintings and drawings for $1 each, but Alyssa wanted to do more.
“I just knew that the homeless people didn’t have anything,” Alyssa said. The art sale was just the beginning.
Inspired to do more, Alyssa thought it would be good idea to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the homeless. “Everyone loves lemonade,” Alyssa said.
Alisha created a Facebook event titled “sHebrews to Elemonade Homelessness” and shared the public event with friends and family to spread the date, and she set up a free online fundraiser site where people were able to donate even if they couldn’t attend. “[Alyssa] raised $250 a month before the event,” Alisha said.
Alyssa set a goal of raising $500.
“Whatever she makes, she plans to divide and personally deliver the profit between the Hub, Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission and HOPE for the Homeless,” Alisha said.
HOPE for the Homeless’ central location in the Ark-La-Tex, located at 762 Austen Place in Shreveport, is funded through donations. Shelters, day centers, street outreach programs and a soup kitchen are all a part of HOPE, which is considered the homeless coalition for Northwest Louisiana and designed as a onestop center for homeless services in Shreveport.
The coalition plans monthly meetings with over 60 agencies and individuals serving the cause to take a look at finding a “big picture” solution to homelessness.
The Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission, located at 901 McNeil St. in Shreveport, estimates the homeless population to be over 4,500 in Northwest Louisiana. D.J. Hejtmanek, director of development and community relations at the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission, said “[We are] honored to be included in Alyssa’s quest to help the homeless here in our own community.” Members from the mission plan to attend Alyssa’s fundraiser and help her with her lemonade stand.
“Donations help us provide food, shelter, clothing, and share the love of God with men, women and children who are experiencing homelessness,” Hejtmanek said. “They need a hand up to move on to better times. It costs about $17 per day per person to invest in a life.”
Hejtmanek challenges the community to show up at Alyssa’s event. “Community involvement is critical,” Alyssa said. “The mission served 1,414 homeless and hungry individuals in 2013, providing 152,000 meals and 84,000 nights of lodging. We can’t do this without the community’s help – by volunteering and by donating funds and goods.”
Hub’s Lovewell Center, located at 605 Cotton St. in Shreveport, seek to intentionally love the materially poor in such a way that they will one day – hopefully – no longer need help. According to the Hub’s website, the Lovewell “is a place for those in poverty to call their own, be proud of and seek refuge in as they learn to put one foot in front of the other and walk into a life of freedom.” Donations fund classes, meetings and resources, and attendance earns points that can be redeemed at the Lovewell’s on-site thrift store, grocery store and laundry mat.
Alisha said, “It is a challenge to keep up with Alyssa, but she inspires me.” As a mom, Alisha said she is excited to help and support her daughter.
–Brittney Trahan