Lemonade drive sets record

Share this article:

By Al Benson

An Aurora girl’s weekend lemonade stand raised a record $2,845 for Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry in Aurora.

Savannah Crooks, left, of Aurora, 17, serves homemade lemonade from a stand in her parents’ driveway Saturday, July 10. In the West Aurora High School senior’s 10th annual lemonade fundraiser, Crooks raised a record $2,845 in donations to benefit Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry of Aurora. Background is a poster on past fundraisers. Al Benson/The Voice

Thursday through Saturday, Savannah Crooks of Aurora, 17, served homemade lemonade from a pop-up tent in her parents’ driveway. It was the West Aurora High School senior’s 10th annual lemonade fundraiser and her eighth for the Food Pantry.

In spite of the pandemic, Crooks’ highest prior total was $2,500 last year.

Her mother, Rhonda Crooks, said “We try to beat the total from the year before every year. It was a tight finish (this year).

“When we first counted, she (Savannah) had not made her goal. But then a lady who always comes pulled in my driveway and honked. She donated $200, which put us just over and then we got a few more online donations. We will be dropping donations at the food pantry this week!”

Savannah didn’t set a price for her lemonade cups, just accepting donations.

Regular customers who come back each Summer include neighbors, friends and local police officers and firemen.

Rhonda Crooks held a garage sale in conjunction with her daughter’s lemonade stand.

—Al Benson

Leave a Reply