Chamber seeks young entrepreneurs to register for Lemonade Day in Luna County
DEMING – Spring in Luna County signals the start of warmer days and an increase in outdoor recreation. Neighborhood lemonade stands begin to pop up and children become entrepreneurs, earning money for that popular video game or just to add to a college savings account.
The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce is bringing Lemonade Day, a youth entrepreneurship and educational program to Deming this year, and is asking members of the business community to participate by sharing your business experience and knowledge with our local youth.
"We believe that this program and experience will inspire and equip our city’s next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders," said Debbie Troyer, Executive Director of the Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce.
Lemonade Day is an experiential, educational program for elementary age children that teaches them the process of starting and then running their very own business – a lemonade stand.
On Lemonade Day children in Deming and Luna County will be able to set up their lemonade stand businesses throughout the city and open for sales. The money they make will be theirs to keep. They are encouraged to spend some of their profit, save some of their profit, and share some of their profit with a charity of their choice.
Lemonade Day was started in Houston, Texas in 2007 as a 501(c)3 by entrepreneur and philanthropist, Michael Holthouse. Since then, it has expanded to more than 81 programs throughout North America, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. The average profit for participating children last year was $224, however many children in high customer traffic areas throughout their cities make much more – many even over $1,000 on that one day.
Troyer hopes that chamber members will want to participate in one or all of the following ways:
• Promote Lemonade Day with your employees and invite them to register their children to participate. There is no cost for the program.
• Agree to host a child’s lemonade stand on Lemonade Day outside your business or store front. This can be one of your employee’s children or a child from the community who approaches you and asks permission.
• Volunteer to provide a Lemonade Day workshop to teach one or more lessons to participating children who sign up. You may choose to only offer the workshop for your employees’ children.
• Provide mentors to teach the Lemonade Day lessons in the community.
• Support Lemonade Day financially as a city sponsor.
"Please let us know if you are interested in helping us provide this wonderful program to the children and future leaders of our community," Troyer said.
Troyer is responsible for cornering a Lemonade Day event from the national chapter. Along with chief sponsor Capital Power, She is seeking young entrepreneurs who are willing to learn life skills of responsibility, financial literacy, goal setting, business skills and teamwork.
Children in grades K-5 are encouraged to register and set a goal, make a plan, execute that plan, and achieve your goal with a lemonade stand.
"Be creative," is Troyer's message to the children and their families. "Market your product and see if you can come up with the best-tasting lemonade or the best decorated lemonade stand.
"The whole concept is for children to experience how operating their own lemonade stand can be part of the business community and they can make money in the process. Lemonade Day encourages them to spend a little, save a little and share a little with the charity of their choice."
Albuquerque and Deming are the two cities in New Mexico sanctioned for Lemonade Day. The event will take place in May, but now is the time to register as a young entrepreneur, volunteer, mentor and/or sponsor.
The program builds young entrepreneurs who own and operate their own lemonade stands, with the help of the community. "These children could be the future of small businesses like the ones here in Deming and Luna County," Troyer said.
The response to Lemonade Day by the community has been overwhelming, Troyer told the Headlight. "People I have talked to feel like this program is needed and important to our children, our community and our future."
Over one million children have participated in over 61 U.S. cities.
City officials are on board with the program and are expected to sign into proclamation Lemonade Day in Deming. "The business community has been super positive about this program and are looking for a workforce they can depend on. They are making an investment in that future workforce," Troyer explained.
Once a child is registered, they will have an opportunity to use an app that will help them establish a business profile toward success. Books are on order that will also provide lessons and guidance for the young business tycoons.
The concept of "spend some" may include the cost of building a lemonade stand or purchasing of products. The "save some" could be intended for creating a bank account. The "share some" is to put a bit of their earnings into a charity of their choice which exercises giving back to the community.
Sponsors for the program include some of the local financial institutions; 1st New Mexico Bank and First Savings Bank. Solitaire Homes and Homegrown Produce are saving materials for upcycling and Peppers Supermarket could provide a shopping program.
"You have to register to take advantage of these local services," Troyer said. Register at https://lemonadeday.org/deming-luna/youth. To learn more about Lemonade Day, visit the national website at lemonadeday.org where you can also register.
The target date for Lemonade Day is May 21, 2022. "This is one of those events that involves the entire community," Troyer said. "We look forward to young entrepreneurs, mentors, sponsors and volunteers to register and make this program a success."
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (leave a message) or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.
This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Chamber seeks young entrepreneurs to register for Lemonade Day
