Local children will be setting up a “lemon-aid” stand in front of the Kabob Place, located at 2545 Geer Rd., on Wednesday to raise awareness and money for those currently affected by the unrest in the Middle East.
Beginning at noon on Wednesday, a stand selling lemonade and snacks will be set up with all proceeds going to the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization (ACERO). The children will be selling until about 2 or 3 p.m., depending on the turnout and demand.
“It’s mostly for the kids,” said Adrenna Alkhas, the mother of the children who came up with the idea for the lemonade stand. “For them to help raise awareness about what’s going on and to raise some funds for the families in Iraq.”
ACERO is a non-profit through her church that provides all displaced families affected by the unrest in Iraq with food, water, shelter, clothing, etc., said Alkhas who is no stranger to public outreach. Alkhas works as the Marketing and Communications Director for the Stanislaus County Fair.
She added that Wednesday’s lemonade stand is only a small event, and larger events are planned in Turlock and surrounding areas in the next month.
“We’re going to have different lemonade stands in Modesto, Ceres, Turlock and trying to raise awareness and raise funds through the kids,” said Alkhas. “It’s kids helping kids basically.”
Turlock, which has a large Assyrian population, has been active in raising awareness and standing against the persecution of Christians in Iraq. In June, a large group of Turlock Assyrians rallied Downtown to support those affected by the unrest.
For those who cannot make it by the lemonade stand, ACERO accepts donations at their website http://theacero.org/.
