Ask a child what they want for their birthday, and you might hear some similar answers: maybe a Lego set or an art project, maybe a new soccer ball or video game. But not for nine-year-old Cora June. This year, she had a different wish: to host a lemonade stand and raise money for Habitat.
CJ spent a 95° birthday weekend selling lemonade and orangeade in her neighborhood and at her grandparents’ church, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, a Habitat Faith Partner of at least 10 years.
She raised about $1,350 through lemonade sales and donations by the end of the weekend!
This isn't the first time CJ has made a difference with a lemonade stand. She celebrated her last birthday raising money for Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity in Georgia.
“Her birthday started rolling around this year, and she definitely didn’t forget it,” said Kelly Rose Watson, CJ’s mom. “We geared up and made it happen again.”
Cora June and her family spent hours the night before hand-squeezing lemons and oranges, and decorating signs to prepare for the weekend. Anybody that couldn’t physically be there to get lemonade was still donating via Venmo or check in the mail, explained Watson.
Cora June’s generosity and passion for helping others have become a birthday tradition, one that allows her to bring her community closer together to impact affordable housing.
“It’s endearing to me that she’s only nine years old and taking initiative by herself,” Watson said. “She loves helping people, and I think that’s going to take her far.”
“What’s compelling for me is that we often hear ‘what can my child who is not yet 16 do to help Habitat?’” said Rebecca Hix, Director of Faith Relations at Habitat Wake. “If 50 kids from 50 different congregations raised $1,000 each, that would make a significant impact in our work.”
We want to extend a huge thank you to Cora June for working hard this summer to support us. We know her dedication to serving the community will go a long way in inspiring others to find creative ways to support local nonprofits like Habitat Wake!
For more information on our work and how you can get involved, please visit habitatwake.org/our-work.