ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A lemonade stand in Altoona is just a small ingredient to a big movement. A movement that all started because Makenzie Baranik cares.
“I am just blown away by her generosity,” Ryan Baranik, Makenzie’s dad, said. “She has a heart of gold.”
“I think I got my kind heart from both of my parents,” Makenzie expressed.
Making the summertime favorite drink is something she and her dad enjoy. So, a few years ago, the two decided to start a simple lemonade stand.
“When we were done with it, I said, ‘Well, what do you want to do with the money?'” Ryan explained. “She said, ‘I think I would really like to donate it to a local organization and make a positive impact in some kind of way.'”
That first lemonade stand sparked a greater initiative. An initiative to create a positive, lasting impact on the community.
“I really just like to help my community and people in need,” Makenzie said. “And I thought, what if the money that I make selling lemonade, I could donate?”
Last year was all about helping first responders. This year is all about helping kids.
Her lemonade stand this June raised money for Shriners Children’s Philadelphia.
“Being a Shriner, Makenzie knows how important Shriners Hospitals for Children is to me,” Ryan said. “The things that we are able to help children with is just amazing.”
July’s lemonade stand will benefit the Mountain Lion Backpack program, an organization that provides food to students.
In August, donations will go to the Blair County Miracle League. Makenzie’s brother, Camden, has Down syndrome. She knows one day he’ll be playing on their fields.
“It’s a special team that can help those kids,” Makenzie explained. “I want my brother to be able to do that too when he is older.”
In doing all of this, at just 8 years old, Makenzie is learning valuable life skills. However, she is also teaching others about kindness.
“I just want other people to be nice to people,” Makenzie said.
You see, Makenzie believes that we all play a role in helping make our communities better. The hope is for her mission to spread. That someone sees what she is doing, and it motivates them to go out and make a difference.
“Hopefully,” Makenzie expressed. “Crossing my fingers on that one.”
Makenzie will be posting the time and location of her next two lemonade stands of the summer on her Facebook page.
Reach out to Maggie Smolka if you know someone or an organization that’s making an impact in the community. You can email msmolka@wtajtv.com or message her on Facebook.