Wrangell’s Lemonade Day set for May 5

Next weekend, Wrangell will participate for the first time in a nationwide event: Lemonade Day.

The day offers students across the country the chance to learn how to operate their own business through a lemonade stand.

“The foremost objective of Lemonade Day is to empower youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society – the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers, and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow,” according to LemonadeDay.org.

Alaska’s official “Lemonade Day” is scheduled for May 6 starting at 10 a.m. However, at a meeting at the elementary school last week, Borough Manager Timothy Rooney said it was decided Saturday, May 5 would be a better day for Wrangell to participate.

And, while Wrangell is recognizing May 5 as “Lemonade Day,” students are allowed to have stands May 6 as well, Rooney said.

First Bank provided a $3,000 grant to fund Lemonade Day in Wrangell. That money will be rolled over each year to help fund Lemonade Day.

Fifty dollars will be given to each student or group of students planning to set up a stand around town. Those children are required to sign a “loan agreement” saying they will pay back 30 percent ($15) of the $50-loan.

Participants must also agree to pay 10 percent of their profits from the lemonade stand to a charity of their choice.

Loan agreement forms are due April 30.

Information on where lemonade stands will be located around town May 5 will be included in next week’s Sentinel.