In the meantime, Ainsley has made her way into the world of philanthropy. Doing her part to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and supporting the Light the Night charity, she's been running a growing lemonade stand to collect donations.
Her #AinsleysLemonadeStand is supporting other efforts such as the #Nashies t-shirt sales, and a Stella & Dot Jewelry sale, which combined have earned over $5,000 towards LLS so far.
With the help of local media like @RedBrickTown, the #StandWithAinsley story has also been picked up by The Alexandria News:
Teaching A Community To Care One Glass Of Lemonade At A Time
July 20th 2015
By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
alexandrianews.org
Ainsley"s Lemonade Stand (Courtesy Photo)
Ainsley
McDermott is only seven years old but she is teaching Alexandria about
sharing and caring one glass of lemonade at a time.
Ainsley
and her 11-year-old brother Harry have always liked having a lemonade
stand in their front yard and earning a little bit of money to buy ice
cream or some other treat. This
summer Ainsley is using her lemonade stand to help her mom raise money
for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation.
Kimberly McDermott explained. “This fall I am participating in a
Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Ainsley has been doing her part to help me raise money.
“She’s
been asking for months when we could do a lemonade stand. That
typically results in me putting out $40, sitting in the sun all day and
raising about $15 for the kids to spend
on ice cream. After telling them about Alex’s Lemonade Stand we agreed it would be more fun to combine our efforts and hold lemonade stands for the Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society.
Harry and Ainsely McDermott raising awareness (Courtesy Photo)
“So
far they’ve run two stands and raised about $100 each time. I make the
lemonade but Ainsley has read up on lemonade stands in the
Daring Book for Girls,
she’s read about Alex’s Lemonade Stand on Wikipedia and in Alex’s own
book. She buys supplies with her dad, sets up her stand, brings
in business (we have a corner lot and a lot of car and foot traffic)
and delivers lemonade to cars, making it clear that the lemonade, iced
tea and cookies are free but all donations benefit the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society. Her brother stands guard and does
his best to get cars to stop while I make up fresh lemonade.
#CopsLoveLemonade (Courtesy Photo)
“Ainsley
had a friend help one day who was delighted to have a detective stop
by. He said he’d tell his friends about our stand, because
#CopsLoveLemonade. That was something else
we learned.
“At
the close of business, Ainsley, a rising second grader, counts her
money. She was so inspired the other day she donated her own $1 to the
charity. She’s having a blast helping
others and learning about business, specifically marketing,” McDermott
said.
As
for Ainsley: “I’ve learned that not all cancers can be cured. And not
all kids have cancer. But most of the reason is they don’t have enough
money to do that and a lemonade stand
was the most I could do. And I also Ii learned that not all people
will stop. And I think that not everyone actually cares. But I care! And
you should too,” Ainsley wrote in a letter to alexandrianews.org.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
was begun by the parents of Alexandra Scott who
died from cancer at the age of eight. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma just
before her first birthday, Alex held a lemonade stand in her front yard
when she was four years old to raise money for children with cancer.
She continued to hold lemonade stands each
year until her death.Keep an eye on @ItsMeAinsleyMcD for more updates!!
