'GMA' Gives Back: Lara Spencer Opens a Robin Hood ‘Lemon-Aid’ Stand
Lara Spencer and her 9-year-old daughter use lemons to help fight poverty.
— -- Summer is the time to get outside and make a difference. In honor of Disney’s Summer of Service campaign, “Good Morning America” is showcasing organizations doing charitable work across the country.
Lara Spencer and her 9-year-old daughter, Kate, were inspired by the Robin Hood Foundation’s Lemon-Aid Program.
The organization turns the time-honored tradition of the neighborhood lemonade stand into a charitable event for kids. Cup by cup, the program asks neighbors to make a donation of any size to raise money to help the nearly 2 million New Yorkers living in poverty, and also helps teach kids a lesson about the importance of giving back.
“It’s never too young to start thinking about how can you help other people,” Deborah Winshel, president and COO of the Robin Hood Foundation, explained. “And what a wonderful way to start thinking about philanthropy as you begin to grow up.”
Since the program began in 2004, kids have raised over $1 million -- with every penny raised benefiting programs that help New Yorkers in need.
Taking that to heart, Spencer and her daughter opened their own “lemon-aid” stand, offering free lemonade on a hot summer day in return for a donation of any size. Kate and her friends raised $380, which goes a long way. According to Robin Hood, $75 can feed a New York family of three for a week, and every $100 gives a homeless family a place to stay for the night.
“It's a great feeling. Anytime you get to really help anybody. It's a good feeling,” Chris, a 16-year-old volunteer said about the project.
Click here to learn more about the Robin Hood Foundation and the Lemon-Aid program.
Disney, the parent company of ABC News, in partnership with Youth Service America, is calling on young change-makers to apply for a Summer of Service Award. Winners will receive a $1,000 award to assist them in continuing their good work and to help make a lasting, positive change in the world. Click here to learn more and apply by July 31.
