The big idea
While most young kids generally want to spend their summer holidays relaxing and playing with friends, Elias and Katelyn Smidt were a little different. Instead of just lounging around, these nine-year-old twins had a different plan: they wanted to earn, and not for the reason you might expect...
Mom's view
“Goodness gracious. The kids have so been looking forward to having a lemonade stand all summer,” their mom Karen revealed in a Facebook post in August 2021. And after much patience and doubtless a fair bit of campaigning, the twins had got their wish: their parents had agreed to help the siblings set up their stand. While nothing here seems out of the ordinary, as it turned out some peculiar things would happen at this particular roadside refreshment kiosk.
A great start
With the help of their parents, Elias and Katelyn set up their new venture right outside their house in Ames, Ohio. In reality, the lemonade stand was more of a hobby than a business, with the twins deciding that they wouldn’t charge people for their lemonade. Yet that decision still didn’t prevent them from earning a juicy profit.
Raking in the cash
Throughout the day, the twins offered a refreshing cup of lemonade to passersby. Taken aback by the kids’ friendliness and generosity, plenty of satisfied patrons left a token of their appreciation in the tips jar. After just a few hours, the twins had amassed somewhere between $50 and $100 in tips. Unfortunately, their good fortune would soon vanish from their grasp...
A change in mood
“We’ve had so many amazing people stop by,” Karen noted in the Facebook post. But what happened next turned what had started out as a thoroughly enjoyable adventure into an upsetting experience. The mood changed when one particular car pulled up next to the Smidt twins’ stand.
Bad timing
At the moment that this vehicle pulled up next to the stand, Karen had gone inside to make more lemonade. Sadly, her timing could not have been worse. While Elias and Katelyn had simply wanted to bring a smile to people’s faces, one person had no interest in treating these kind-hearted children in the manner that they deserved.
The theft
When the car pulled up, Katelyn, ever eager to please, asked if she could give the occupant some lemonade. This was an offer the woman inside the car was happy to accept. But suddenly, as Katelyn began to pour, she grabbed the tip jar, jumped back in the car, and sped off. Just like that, the twins’ day had turned into a nightmare...
Perseverance
When she went back outside, Karen found herself having to console her heartbroken kids. Commendably, despite their tears, the twins resolved not to allow the awful incident to ruin their day, and they carried on running their stall. Still, Karen was keen to find some way to heal her children’s wounds.
Something had to be done
Karen admitted that seeing how devastated her children looked had left her with a knot in her stomach. Clearly, something had to be done in order to turn things around. And while both the thief and the money were both long gone, some locals proved more than willing to aid the mom in her mission.
The cry for help
Having recounted the traumatic incident to a neighbor, Karen was advised by them to call the police. And while Karen understood that this was technically the right thing to do, she doubted that the cops could help, considering how little information she had about the theft. But little did she realize just how caring people can sometimes be…
The call
Local newspaper the Ames Tribune reported how Karen did indeed decide to contact the Ames Police Department after talking things over with her neighbor. And fortunately for her, the officers on the other end of the line were more than willing to assist. As well as launching an investigation, one officer came up with a great way to brighten the kids’ day.
To the rescue
Yes, as soon as she heard Elias and Katelyn’s story, Celena Rohland instantly felt the urge to assist. The moment she put down the phone, she spread the news of what had happened at the kids’ lemonade stand to her fellow officers as well. And soon, the twins would be enjoying some unexpected company.
The visitor
“She was absolutely phenomenal with Katelyn,” was Karen’s description to the Ames Tribune of Rohland, who came to see the kids after the incident. But while this officer’s visit doubtless helped to lift the kids’ spirits, there was plenty more to come.
Supporting the twins
Following Rohland’s attendance, huge numbers of first responders from the Ames Police Department all paid the lemonade stand a visit. “The look on my kids’ faces was ... you just can’t even describe it,” Karen told the Ames Tribune. And the fun didn’t end there.
Coming together
You see, not all of the twins’ new patrons had come just from the police department. Soon enough, the nine-year-olds were serving members of the Ames Fire Department, the Story County Sheriff’s Office, and even Iowa State University Police Department officers! As Karen later told TV station Fox News, “Our kids went from scared and unsure how to trust the next person…to wide-eyed, smiling and so excited.”
Restoring their confidence
Before their newest patrons had shown up, Elias and Katelyn had been frightened and hesitant about how to continue after their traumatic experience. Thanks to the officers, though, the kids rediscovered their enthusiasm and even developed enough confidence to reopen their lemonade stand the next day! And while their street was filled with police cars and firetrucks, the twins decided to repay the police officers and firefighters who had supported them.
Welcome donation
As before, the twins still weren’t charging for their lemonade, but giving their patrons the opportunity to leave an optional tip. Yet these tips weren’t destined for Elias and Katelyn’s pockets. Rather, the twins had been inspired to give back to the people who helped them in their hour of need.
Shop with a Cop
As reported by news website the Western Journal, Elias and Katelyn announced that all of the tips that they received would now be donated to the “Shop with a Cop” program. This was an initiative that the police department had devised to provide happier holidays to families in need. And little did the kids know just what an enormous impact their actions would make on the program.
A Woman Who Stole Kids’ Lemonade Stand Money Never Could Have Predicted The Response
With the summer holidays in full swing, nine-year-old twins Katelyn and Elias Smidt begged their mom to let them open a lemonade stand. This proved to be no ordinary business venture, though, as we’ll see. Yet when one woman’s selfish actions put all of their hard work in jeopardy, the community banded together in a story of perseverance and hope that soon went viral online.
The big idea
While most young kids generally want to spend their summer holidays relaxing and playing with friends, Elias and Katelyn Smidt were a little different. Instead of just lounging around, these nine-year-old twins had a different plan: they wanted to earn, and not for the reason you might expect...
Mom's view
“Goodness gracious. The kids have so been looking forward to having a lemonade stand all summer,” their mom Karen revealed in a Facebook post in August 2021. And after much patience and doubtless a fair bit of campaigning, the twins had got their wish: their parents had agreed to help the siblings set up their stand. While nothing here seems out of the ordinary, as it turned out some peculiar things would happen at this particular roadside refreshment kiosk.
A great start
With the help of their parents, Elias and Katelyn set up their new venture right outside their house in Ames, Ohio. In reality, the lemonade stand was more of a hobby than a business, with the twins deciding that they wouldn’t charge people for their lemonade. Yet that decision still didn’t prevent them from earning a juicy profit.
Raking in the cash
Throughout the day, the twins offered a refreshing cup of lemonade to passersby. Taken aback by the kids’ friendliness and generosity, plenty of satisfied patrons left a token of their appreciation in the tips jar. After just a few hours, the twins had amassed somewhere between $50 and $100 in tips. Unfortunately, their good fortune would soon vanish from their grasp...
A change in mood
“We’ve had so many amazing people stop by,” Karen noted in the Facebook post. But what happened next turned what had started out as a thoroughly enjoyable adventure into an upsetting experience. The mood changed when one particular car pulled up next to the Smidt twins’ stand.
Bad timing
At the moment that this vehicle pulled up next to the stand, Karen had gone inside to make more lemonade. Sadly, her timing could not have been worse. While Elias and Katelyn had simply wanted to bring a smile to people’s faces, one person had no interest in treating these kind-hearted children in the manner that they deserved.
The theft
When the car pulled up, Katelyn, ever eager to please, asked if she could give the occupant some lemonade. This was an offer the woman inside the car was happy to accept. But suddenly, as Katelyn began to pour, she grabbed the tip jar, jumped back in the car, and sped off. Just like that, the twins’ day had turned into a nightmare...
Perseverance
When she went back outside, Karen found herself having to console her heartbroken kids. Commendably, despite their tears, the twins resolved not to allow the awful incident to ruin their day, and they carried on running their stall. Still, Karen was keen to find some way to heal her children’s wounds.
Something had to be done
Karen admitted that seeing how devastated her children looked had left her with a knot in her stomach. Clearly, something had to be done in order to turn things around. And while both the thief and the money were both long gone, some locals proved more than willing to aid the mom in her mission.
The cry for help
Having recounted the traumatic incident to a neighbor, Karen was advised by them to call the police. And while Karen understood that this was technically the right thing to do, she doubted that the cops could help, considering how little information she had about the theft. But little did she realize just how caring people can sometimes be…
The call
Local newspaper the Ames Tribune reported how Karen did indeed decide to contact the Ames Police Department after talking things over with her neighbor. And fortunately for her, the officers on the other end of the line were more than willing to assist. As well as launching an investigation, one officer came up with a great way to brighten the kids’ day.
To the rescue
Yes, as soon as she heard Elias and Katelyn’s story, Celena Rohland instantly felt the urge to assist. The moment she put down the phone, she spread the news of what had happened at the kids’ lemonade stand to her fellow officers as well. And soon, the twins would be enjoying some unexpected company.
The visitor
“She was absolutely phenomenal with Katelyn,” was Karen’s description to the Ames Tribune of Rohland, who came to see the kids after the incident. But while this officer’s visit doubtless helped to lift the kids’ spirits, there was plenty more to come.
Supporting the twins
Following Rohland’s attendance, huge numbers of first responders from the Ames Police Department all paid the lemonade stand a visit. “The look on my kids’ faces was ... you just can’t even describe it,” Karen told the Ames Tribune. And the fun didn’t end there.
Coming together
You see, not all of the twins’ new patrons had come just from the police department. Soon enough, the nine-year-olds were serving members of the Ames Fire Department, the Story County Sheriff’s Office, and even Iowa State University Police Department officers! As Karen later told TV station Fox News, “Our kids went from scared and unsure how to trust the next person…to wide-eyed, smiling and so excited.”
Restoring their confidence
Before their newest patrons had shown up, Elias and Katelyn had been frightened and hesitant about how to continue after their traumatic experience. Thanks to the officers, though, the kids rediscovered their enthusiasm and even developed enough confidence to reopen their lemonade stand the next day! And while their street was filled with police cars and firetrucks, the twins decided to repay the police officers and firefighters who had supported them.
Welcome donation
As before, the twins still weren’t charging for their lemonade, but giving their patrons the opportunity to leave an optional tip. Yet these tips weren’t destined for Elias and Katelyn’s pockets. Rather, the twins had been inspired to give back to the people who helped them in their hour of need.
Shop with a Cop
As reported by news website the Western Journal, Elias and Katelyn announced that all of the tips that they received would now be donated to the “Shop with a Cop” program. This was an initiative that the police department had devised to provide happier holidays to families in need. And little did the kids know just what an enormous impact their actions would make on the program.
Taking a break
The kids continued operating their lemonade stand in the following days, working so hard that mom Karen eventually announced on Facebook that they were all exhausted and would be taking a break. As Elias put it, “My back hurts so bad from sitting on that chair without a back for three days!” After learning how much money they had raised, though, the twins soon realized their respite was well-deserved.
Making a difference
The twins’ story was soon picked up by several local news outlets, with a Venmo account being set up in honor of their goal. And in just a few days, over $3,000 was donated to the “Shop with a Cop” program! Karen told the Western Journal that the whole episode had demonstrated how anything can be overcome with effort and care. She said, “This community has shown so many what it looks and feels like to really come together.”
