Three young children with ties to the Cleveland area are turning lemonade into an opportunity to give back to those who have served our country.
Twins Hudson and Ella Harkness, 7, of Cleveland, the children of Liberty County Pct. 6 Constable Zack Harkness and Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman, will be joined by their cousin, Louie Bergman, 9, for their annual lemonade stand fundraiser benefiting the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Harkness twins have been hosting the lemonade stand for three years.
The lemonade stand, which will include hotdogs, will be held Friday, July 3, at 709 S. Washington St., Cleveland, with the trio hoping to raise $3,000 for the VFW — an ambitious goal they believe the community can help them achieve. The lemonade and hotdogs will be sold for $1 each.
The fundraiser has become a meaningful tradition for the family, honoring generations of military service while teaching the children the importance of giving back.
“The VFW holds a special place in our family’s heart because of the military service of Hudson and Ella’s dad, their grandfather Tim, and their Uncle Canon,” Bergman said. “I know their shared Great Uncle Larry Tibbetts would be incredibly proud to see Hudson and Ella Harkness and their cousin, Louie Bergman, spending their day raising money to support our veterans.”
Bergman said the event is about much more than selling lemonade.
“We want our children to understand that the freedoms we enjoy were earned through the sacrifice and service of men and women like those in our own family,” she said. “We hope our friends and neighbors will stop by, enjoy a glass of lemonade, encourage these three young people, and help support the VFW and the veterans who have given so much for our country.”
