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Cops Show Up to Boy's Lemonade Stand After Robbery, Help Him Make His Money Back

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Summertime is the perfect opportunity for young children to start learning entrepreneurship skills by setting up a lemonade stand. It’s a safe, easy way for kids to make a little cash by running a mini business on the side of the road to help people cool off from the hot summer sun.

Sadly, many of these lemonade stands face scrutiny due to the fact that they don’t have the proper permits and many have been shut down.

The Country Time brand, in particular, is making a stand for kid’s who are fined for not having a permit to run their lemonade stand by creating Legal-Ade.

“Any child fined for running a lemonade stand without a permit can have his or her parent apply for reimbursement. To apply, simply upload the image of your child’s permit or fine along with a description of what your lemonade stand means to your child, in his or her own words. The submission will be reviewed by the Legal Ade team and if it complies with the terms, you will receive the exact amount to cover the permit or fine, up to $300.00.”

Now, one would expect police to be in the business of shutting these little businesses down, but one story from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, shows that these heroes in blue may not be as bad as the establishment media says they are.

Little 9-year-old Gracien had set up his lemonade stand with a sign that read, “Lemonade on the right. Mostly in the morning!” He made $20 on Thursday, June 14, but two older boys rode by on their bikes and took the money.

Gracen’s dad Mark told KTIS the story. “Gracen called me up and asked me if he should call the police and I said that he probably shouldn’t bother them, but I did pray for him over the phone using the verse from Proverbs 6:31 that says whatever the thief steals he has to pay back sevenfold,” he said.

Mark later changed his mind and told his son that he could see if the police were not busy so they could help him out.

When the dad returned later that day two Brooklyn Park police cars were in front of Gracen’s lemonade stand, ready to save the 9-year-old’s day.

Do you think police officers should get more credit for their hard work?

The policewoman told Gracen that she was going to replace the $20, but wanted “Dad to hold it” for safekeeping.

A third police car showed up and the officer bought four cups of lemonade for $5. At the end of the day, Gracen’s original $20 had grown to $50.



These police officers really turned lemons into lemonade. They took time out of their busy days to help a child who had been wronged.

“My wife and I were really blessed. In fact, the next day another officer stopped by for lemonade, and she was out there with tears in her eyes thanking him. She couldn’t believe that people would do this for a child. I had tears in my eyes too, that it was so precious that something so little could mean so much.”

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This story is a great reminder of the little things police officers do to keep our communities safe and happy, and how a lemonade stand can be a great place for kids to learn life lessons.

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Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.
Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.
Birthplace
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated with Honors
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon
Books Written
Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future
Location
Prescott, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, French
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Health, Entertainment, Faith




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