For the second summer in a row, the Barr kids set up shop in front of Southern Belle Realty in Brooksville offering lemonade for sale as well as cookies. Emily Barr, mother of Rex, 11, Emma-Claire, 9 and Annie, 7, explained that she asked the kids what they wanted to get done during the final days of summer and they said that the lemonade stand was a definite bucket-list item to complete.
However, this isn’t your ordinary lemonade stand operation. The kids aren’t raising money for their piggy banks. The money they brought in was split between three different charities for the care of animals: Jimmy’s Angels Rescue, Dollars for Dogs and 100 Acre Wood Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. The Barr kids along with their friend, Cadyn, raised a total of $460 in just two hours.
Jimmy’s Angels Rescue is a foster based organization. They say, “We pride ourselves on helping the community’s animals in their time of need and in a variety of ways, including but not limited to financially assisting with vetting emergencies and assisting the homeless communities with vetting and feeding their animals. We take in homeless and abandoned animals to vet and care for until loving homes can be found.”
Dollars for Dogs is run by Harrison another kid interested in helping our furry friends. The Hernando Sun wrote an article in December of 2016 on Dollars for Dogs when Harrison was just 10 years old. Dollars for Dogs helps pay for emergency veterinary care for people who can’t afford or weren’t expecting such an expense. The charity also sponsors the treatment for heartworm positive dogs in shelters, so they could be adopted.
The kids decided to add in a wildlife rescue this year, the 100 Acre Wood Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc, because wild animals need help too. 100 Acre Wood Wildlife Rehabilitation was founded in 2006 by Linda Christian, a State and Federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She lives onsite as “keeper” of the wood. Christian says her mission in life is to “rescue, rehabilitate and release” the scores and scores of mammals, birds and reptiles that are injured or displaced locally.
On display at the lemonade stand were posters about these organizations with photos of the animals who receive help. A glass of lemonade sure can go a long way in Brooksville.
