By City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Two Wisconsin Rapids youth recently helped put the squeeze on food insecurity in the area by raising funds in a very old-fashioned way.

On July 23, Payton and Lucas went to The Neighborhood Table where they presented a check for $270. Submitted photo

“Payton started asking at the beginning of summer if she could have a lemonade stand. As the summer went on we decided if she put the work into it we would let her,” Payton’s mother, Dara Hamm said.
“She made her own lemonade recipe including fresh squeezed lemons (she squeezed the lemons herself). She asked if she could have cupcake to sell too, so I helped her with those.

“Her dad got a stand setup for her, (and) with the help of her grandma she made a sign for her stand. Payton set the prices for both the lemonade and the cupcakes.”

Dara asked Payton, 7, what she would be raising the money for and she quickly replied, “I’m giving it to The Neighborhood Table. I’m too little to serve but I could give them money to help out.”
While selling Payton did all of the work pouring the lemonade, totaling amounts due, and making change. She also let her brother, Lucas, 5, lend a helping hand.

On July 23, Payton and Lucas went to The Neighborhood Table where they presented a check for $270.

“It is great to see how big of a heart she has for others. Knowing she is willing to put in the hard work to make something important to her a success was also great to see,” Dara said.