LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora, 

A freshly-made lemonade and cookie stand to benefit the South Texas Food Bank

 (Laredo, TX )  Children are naturally compassionate people and are always ready to help a neighbor, a friend, a stranger, even a stray dog.  A special group of compassionate kids* came together, wanting to make a difference here in Laredo; especially, to help other kids.  That is how Project Kids Aid with Lemonade was born.  On Monday, May 30, 2011, Memorial Day, children of St. Mary’s University Alumni Association-Laredo Chapter, along with other community-conscious children, will host a lemonade and cookie stand to benefit the South Texas Food Bank.  The lemonade stand will run from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. and will be held at the Guerra Center parking lot, located at the corner of Jacaman and Bartlett, between McPherson and Loop 20.  Guerra Communications and Texas Community Bank are sponsors of the initiative.

 “We have all been so blessed, that it is important for us to give back to the community,” said Joey Garcia, IV, who first came up with the idea to host the lemonade stand.  “Please help us help other kids.”                                   

The lemonade stand will sell ice-cold, freshly-made lemonade, for $1.00 a cup, while freshly-made cookies of various flavors will be sold at 2 for a $1.00.  Additionally, deliveries will be made for orders over $50.  All proceeds will go to the South Texas Food Bank to provide food for needy families in Laredo.  In fact, the South Texas Food Bank points to a formula that shows that they can provide seven meals with only $1.00.  Organizers of the event hope to raise $2,000 for the food bank.

 Wanting to instill the value of being role models in the community, Xochitl Mora Garcia, past president of the local StMU Alumni Association-Laredo Chapter, contacted local StMU alumni, inviting their children to join her sons and participate as hosts in the lemonade and cookie stand fundraiser.  Alumni were eager to have their children be a part of something that will teach their children the importance of helping others, a project that will have a deep and lasting impact in the Laredo community.  Organizers are inviting other local St. Mary’s University alumni to participate by contacting Mora Garcia for donations and to recruit their children as volunteers for the fundraiser, as well.

 When looking for a way to maximize the message of the event, organizers looked to a local media outlet with deep community ties.

 “Partnering with Guerra Communications is the perfect vehicle to help promote this worthy project throughout Laredo,” said Mora Garcia.

 Belinda Guerra, owner/CEO of Guerra Communications, jumped at the chance to be a part of this fundraiser, citing her own step-daughter’s request to host a lemonade stand for the community.