An 8-year-old girl was forced to close her lemonade stand after she was asked by the police, who received complaints from the operators of a nearby food festival, that her business had no permit.
Asa Baker set up her lemonade stand outside of her father's office during the weekend. Within a few short hours, she attracted a line of customers who liked her traditional and pink lemonade. Apparently, there was an ongoing Alliance Rib and Food Festival just a few steps away.
But then Lieutenant Don Wensel said that someone from the festival reported the 8-year-old girl, per Fox 8 News. While he made it clear that they were not specifically targeting kids, this was an unusual situation that needed police action because there is a city ordinance about selling items in public. It didn't exclude the children's lemonade stand.
Baker's mother, Katrina Moore, said they understood that the cop was doing his job and that she could definitely hear in Wensel's voice that he didn't want to offend the 8-year-old girl. In fact, the officer gave Baker $20 so she could consider applying for a permit to sell on the street.
Community rallies behind Ohio girl
Moore later posted about her daughter's dilemma on social media and also thanked the officer who gave her money to apply for the license. But the mother and daughter found out that Baker will need $40 to get a food vendor's license that will allow her to sell for five days only. She also needs to get a street permit or a solicitor's permit, depending on where she plans to set up her lemonade stand.
The cost, as well as the process to obtain and maintain these permits, was too much for the young girl who simply wanted to earn and save some money for the remaining summer. Fortunately, local business owner, Eric Strata, offered to help out Baker.
Strata invited Baker to set up her lemonade stand at his downtown store, Black Sales Liquidation, so the mother and daughter won't have to worry about permits. The police said that they will not interfere with this arrangement.
The store owner also placed a tip jar for Baker, which has raised over $200 from more than 50 donors in a matter of days, according to Daily Mail.
Strata said that he understood the rules and city ordinances but he was compelled to help Baker because he was impressed by her motivation. He said that when he was 8 years old, he played video games and stayed on the couch all day long for the summer.
The shop owner also said that he felt injustice for the innocent girl, who is trying to make something valuable for herself. He hopes that his gesture will keep Baker motivated to pursue her entrepreneurial plans.
Girl's lemonade stand benefits charity
Meanwhile, another Ohio girl running a lemonade stand is planning to donate the profits to charity. Arianna Centrella, 11, who has a brother with special needs, is hoping to raise enough money so she can give this to the Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Fund.
According to WKBN, Centrella is not new to fundraisers. Last summer, she collected pop tabs for cash and then donated the money to the Ronald McDonald House.
Centrella, who sells a glass of lemonade for a dollar, said that her brother with autism is lucky because their parents have the means to pay for his medical needs. However, some families may have to rely on charity so she is hoping to raise money to help kids with hearing problems buy a hearing aid.
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