DARIEN CENTER, N.Y. — If you drive around Western New York this summer, you're bound to see a lemonade stand or two.
While most kids might hope to sell a few cups for some extra spending money, Nolan Brown, 7, has set his sights on a bigger goal — raising thousands of dollars for charity.
Nolan, with some help from mom and dad, set up his very first lemonade stand in 2020 during the pandemic. He raised money for one of his dad's former students; she was raising money for a walk in honor of her dad. Last year, Nolan was back at it, selling lemonade to raise money for the Preston Brown Foundation.
This year, there is a special community connection to his fundraising efforts.
The money he's raised — $3,000 and counting — is going toward a scholarship fund in memory of Jeremy Gabbey. The 39-year-old member of the Pembroke community died recently following surgery. He leaves behind a wife and teenage son.
The scholarship will be awarded to a student athlete at Pembroke High School. Details are still being worked out, but Gabbey's father said the recipient should embody his son's character and work ethic on and off the field.
"With this scholarship fund we want to look for kids that have that same determination and want to go on and play at the next level. Be a student athlete and be a friend because a lot of it is about his character and who he is," said Guy Gabbey.
Jeremy Gabbey and Nolan were separated by decades but connected by a small community and a gesture even sweeter than what's for sale.
"It brings tears to our eyes because you see the love and the care and the support. For Nolan, he doesn't know Jeremy, who he is and his character, but he knows it's a community. Jeremy was all Pembroke," said Guy Gabbey.
And sales were booming!
Word spread on social media even before the stand was open for business, and Nolan raised $700 before he poured a single cup. He doesn't have a specific goal. He just said he wants to make a lot of money to help people.
The lemonade stand was a one-day event, but Nolan and his parents are still raising money for the scholarship fund. If you'd like to donate, you can send donations to @Arron-Brown-5 on Venmo.