Big corporations are receiving stimulus checks during this
time of economic uncertainty. Why should the littlest entrepreneurs be left in
the dust?
Country Time Lemonade realizes that running a neighborhood
lemonade stand is the absolute pits these days. Maybe the foot traffic is better
with more people taking walks, but do you have the right PPE to be working in
the food service industry, even if you’re only 10? Country Time has announced
it will send $100 stimulus checks to kids under 14 whose drink stands are
getting squeezed out this summer.
The drink brand’s mission is to “help kids preserve the values of lemonade stands, honest work
and entrepreneurship, while putting a little juice back into the economy,” according
to a statement. All kids need to do is write a short essay explaining what they’ll
do with their funds, snap a pic of their stand’s sign and have their grown-up submit their entry online.
One thousand lucky kids will be randomly selected for a
bailout, which can be used to offset the
loss of revenue from the lemonade stand and can be saved, spent to help invest
in the local economy or given to a charity of choice (or all three, per the save, spend and give philosophy). Perhaps it can act as seed money for an entirely new business venture?
Country Time has a history of helping the little lemonade guy
in communities. In 2018, they paid permit fees and fines when kids got dinged
by the powers that be as a part of Legal Ade. They even prompted legislation in several states across
the country, including Colorado and Texas, to legalize lemonade stands by
excluding them from businesses that need a permit to operate, which is
pretty sweet.
The time for lemonade stands will come once again. Until
then, maybe kids can jump into the mask-making craze or a related,
but equally important, business? As they say, when life gives you social distancing, make lemon-scented hand sanitizer!