By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter

PLOVER — Plover-Whiting Elementary School held its annual lemonade sale to raise funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation on May 10.

Student and community volunteers sold a record-breaking 700 cups during the five-hour event, raising $458 for the foundation and $512 for a local fifth-grade student at Plover-Whiting battling aplastic anemia.

“This year we added on donations for one of our fifth-grade students who right now has a serious illness and is receiving treatment in Milwaukee,” said Plover-Whiting PTO President Jodi Rentfrow. “The whole school is trying to rally around him.”

Students donate to a noble cause at the lemonade sale. (Taylor Hale Photo)

Proceeds from lemonade sales went to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, while a separate donation box allowed visitors to directly donate to the local family in need, who asked to remain unnamed for privacy. The program first started three years ago when local student Brianna Placeway was fighting thyroid cancer.

The school joined together to support the Placeway family and reached out to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to organize an event. Brianna is now cancer free. Another Plover-Whiting student was supported through the program last year. Kiera Weber and her family received aid from the previous sale, and are still grateful for the help the school provided.

“The community was such a big relief for us,” explained Jeremy Weber, Kiera’s father. “They provided us with so much support through hard times. It’s unbelievable how people will pull together when your family is in hard times.”

Weber volunteered during this year’s event to give back. Rentfrow believes the program gives young learners a chance to aid their peers in a meaningful way.

“I think it’s good for the younger kids at the elementary level to realize that sometimes families are struggling,” she said. “The kids always want to step up and help during those times. This is a good experience for them to be able to do that in the school and the community.”

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is a national pediatric cancer charity. To learn more about their work visit: https://www.alexslemonade.org.

To learn more about Plover-Whiting Elementary School and their community events visit: https://www.pointschools.net/plover-whiting.

Contact Taylor J. Hale at [email protected] with Portage County news and information.