8-year-old sells lemonade to benefit the Children’s Organ Transplant Association

Daphne Bray’s lemonade stand is open from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays until school starts in mid-August.

By Jennifer Nesslar
| 4:45 p.m. July 27, 2016

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

People enjoying Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden over the next few Wednesdays can stop by the Winter Garden American Legion Post 63 for some affordable refreshment, courtesy of 8-year-old Daphne Bray.

Daphne, who is entering the third grade at Oakland Avenue Charter School, recently decided to run a lemonade stand on Wednesdays in front of Winter Garden’s American Legion Post 63.

There, she and her mother, Laura Bray, mix together Country Time lemonade and sell the beverage in red, white and blue cups. Their proceeds go to raise money for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, which helps families of children who need organ transplants to afford the transplant, often a costly procedure.

Daphne’s grandmother volunteers at the Winter Garden American Legion Post 63, so she asked if Daphne could sell the lemonade there. Because the American Legion allowed her to set up shop — and provided ice to keep the lemonade cool — Daphne decided to support an organization that the American Legion also supports.

“I’m just a nice, caring girl, and I want to help people by donating money,” she said.

While selling the lemonade, Daphne also hands out packages which give more information on the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

Wednesdays are open-house days at the American Legion, so many people who stop by the stand are part of the organization.

Under the shade of the patio, it’s easy to miss the lemonade stand when walking by, so Daphne walks out to the sidewalk, lemonade cup in hand, to ask people if they’d like to purchase lemonade. Some people say no, but many say yes. Some of their customers find the stand while playing Pokémon Go.

Daphne sells the lemonade for $1 a cup. During her first week, she made $58. One customer didn’t want lemonade but donated $21 just to give to the cause. She hopes to raise $90 by the end of the summer — that way the family will give $75 to the charity and keep $15 to cover the overhead costs of the lemonade. If the lemonade stand doesn’t raise $90, the family will donate the overhead costs.

If business continues as it did the first week, Daphne will surpass her goal easily.

Daphne was inspired by a classmate who held a lemonade stand to raise money for charity, so she decided to do it for herself. Wednesday, July 13, was the first time she ever ran a lemonade stand.

Her summer has been full of swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School and music camp, but she decided she wanted to do something to help others.

She and her mother carved Wednesdays out of their busy schedules as a good time to sell lemonade.

“What I like about it is she’s learning about charity and giving back to the community and getting out there and talking to people,” Laura Bray said. “There’s a lot of good things going on here.”

Next summer, the Brays are considering bringing the lemonade stand back out to Plant Street — and perhaps adding shortbread cookies to go along with the summer beverage.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected].