First responders boost business at lemonade stand

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - She had the product, she had the pitch, but when a 10 year-old’s lemonade stand couldn’t find any customers last weekend, Volusia County’s first responders decided to give her a major hand.

Katie Shepherd decided to set up the stand and sell cookies and lemonade at her parent’s garage sale Sunday. However the family said traffic to the sale had been slow all day, and by the afternoon Katie had barely had any sales at her stand.

So mom, Danielle, decided maybe they could at least put the treats to good use. Katie’s dad is retired Army so the family’s always tried to encourage her and her brother to show love to first responders and service members. Danielle thought this would be a great opportunity. 

"I decided to call up to the police department, non-emergency, and I talked to the dispatcher,” said Danielle.

She admits she though, at best, a deputy or two would stop by and grab a quick drink.  The response was a little bigger than that.

First a Volusia County fire truck rolled up with thirsty EMT’s inside. Then car after car of Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies rolled up to the house. The family said there were at least 20 cops lines up at one point.

"There were 2 on this side and just filled the whole area,” said Katie pointing up and down their Deland street.

"Yeah, they were all the way down to the street,” added Danielle.

The first responders all ordered their fill and Katie even had to make up a second batch to fill the demand. She said, of course, life savers don’t pay at her stand, but the guys insisted they fill her tip jar at least.

"They protect us, so we have to give them a treat,” said Katie.