A couple of compassionate Port Coquitlam children learned some life lessons about business and helping others on the weekend.
Kristie Nielsen's children, Kolten, eight, and Keston, five, used their entrepreneurial talents to start a lemonade stand and raised a whopping $233 for Kelowna wildfire victims.
Nielsen told the Tri-City News her kids came up with the idea while following news coverage of the McDougall Creek wildfire.
They were upset to learn that people were losing their homes, and, knowing they have family in Kelowna, wanted to do something to help.
"The night before we did it, we were watching the news, it was obviously very sad," said Nielsen.
Then her oldest, Kolten, suggested they do something to help out.
"We should donate," he said. "We could sell some stuff."
However, it took awhile to narrow down the options to a lemonade stand, which the children ultimately setting up at Chelsea Park.
There were some slow times, and it got a bit boring, but Nielsen reminded her sons that the "slow patches" were part of doing business.
"You have to have patience."
Customers who did purchase a glass of lemonade for $1 were extremely generous, Nielsen said, noting most people gave more and said "keep the change."
One of the highlights was during Saturday's (Aug. 19) car cruise — a prelude to the widely popular Downtown Port Coquitlam Car Show, when a man in a yellow muscle car stopped to buy a drink at the lemonade stand.
"He held up the parade," she marvelled.
Nielsen said the boys learned a lot about running a business and helping others in times of need.
"I’m very proud of them, they have such kind hearts always and it’s a good life lesson for them about compassion for others and community coming together in hard times."
The two youngsters will be heading back to Coquitlam River Elementary soon, with Kolten entering Grade 3 and Keston in Grade 1.
They'll have some good stories to share.
"In hard times it feels good to give back," said Nielsen, who said money raised will go to the Mamas for Mamas Fire Support Response.
