Everett Girl Raises Money For Homeless After Lemonade Stand Shutdown

A girl's lemonade stand has been at the heart of outrage between the Everett community and the issue of homelessness in the city.

Now, 7-year-old Elsa LaMaine is figuring out another way to raise money to help others. In fact, this has always been her aim, according to KING 5.

Reporters revealed that half of the profits from the young entrepreneur's lemonade goes towards the local homeless shelter. Neighbors were left confused and angry after Elsa's stand was shut down following a complaint last weekend. She was told to move her stand because people aren't allowed to peddle products for profit in a public park.

"I was incensed. Who would take down a kid's lemonade stand?" Cherie LaMaine, Elsa's grandmother, said.

Everett city officials are facing backlash for taking the time to focus on a lemonade stand instead of addressing a nearby homeless camp. Residents claim the camp has been causing several issues.

On Monday (August 2), Mayor Cassie Franklin has responded to residents' criticism of the city's actions on Facebook, saying that the lemonade stand shutdown "should not have happened."

Meanwhile, Elsa's family created a fundraiser, where 100% of the proceeds are going to the Everett Gospel Mission.

"We're going from lemons to lemonade because now people are gonna benefit from this," the grandmother said. "We just want [Elsa] to learn that it pays to be giving and it pays to be kind."