Local kids flex their philanthropic muscles

Bob Chisholm owner of the area McDonald’s restaurants thanks Connor Major for a donation he and his friends made to Ronald McDonald House following a successful lemonade stand sale Wednesday. Mom Aline Major, Jenica Brownlee-Barnett (10yrs), Riley Major (8yrs) and Kyra Brownlee-Barnett (8yrs) look on.

While most kids were at the beach this week enjoying the sun, building sandcastles and playing in the waves a group of five ambitious neighbourhood kids opted to flex their philanthropic muscles.

The group, ranging in ages from 4 years old to 10 years old, set up a lemonade stand outside their homes on Marshall Park Drive to raise funds to help other kids. They offered a choice of lemonade or ice tea and gratefully accepted donations from all passers-by.

“I remember writing in my diary a long time ago that I want to get a group together and do something for kids,” explained 10-year-old Jenica Brownlee-Barnett.

“So we did it today … but my sister Kyra came up with the idea of selling lemonade.”

“We will probably do this again or something else this summer,” adds 8-year-old Riley Major

“My kids, paired with my neighbour's kids are pretty amazing as they are always coming up things to do of this nature,” explains Aline Major.

“You should have seen everything they did for one of their classmates at Marshall Park, Butch, so he could get his Smartvest.... from selling gum balls to having bake sales at school. I am proud of them for sure!”

The kids ran the stand for just over two hours late in the afternoon Wednesday and managed to raise $30 for the Ronald McDonald House, so with change and bills in hand four of the five group members paid a visit to Bob and Jan Chisholm at the McKeown Avenue McDonalds Thursday.

“We’re so pleased, we’re glad children nowadays think that way,” says Jan Chisholm.

Chisholm adds that the restaurant respects the kids’ efforts and that the donation is taken very seriously right down to issuing a tax receipt.

“We get all the information that we can and where they want it to go, which Ronald McDonald House and they direct where the funds go.”

“They want to help other children and it doesn’t have to be just local children they relate to children everywhere, so they thought Toronto was a good place for their money to go.”

The kids wrapped up their efforts by enjoying restaurant’s new décor and sampling the fare.