Like many girls her age, 7-year-old ParibrSarkar thought it might be fun to have a lemonade stand. So, on a warm summerbrday in July, with the help of her mother, young Pari set up a stand near thebrstreet outside her home.
brbr
Unlike many girls her age, however, Paribrdidn’t plan on spending the money earned on candy, toys or even save it forbrherself. She wanted to donate all she had earned to the Springville PolicebrDepartment.
brbr
“At school, Pari had learned about everydaybrheroes, and a police officer visited,” Pari’s mother, Pritha Lal said. “She wasbrso inspired by these everyday heroes, that she decided that she wanted to raisebrmoney to give back to them.”
brbr
Pritha Lal put a post out to friends andbrfamily about the lemonade stand that would take place on July 4, explainingbrwhere the proceeds would be going, and the community responded.
brbr
“Our first customer was Officer Willardson,brand then Officers Aston and Stanton stopped by,” Pritha Lal said. “One ofbrPari’s teachers came, and we had many friends and neighbors give severalbrdollars for a cup of lemonade.”
brbr
Little Pari’s efforts raised $113 in total,brsaving $10 to buy her parents a gift, and the rest she brought to the policebrdepartment. When she arrived, none other than Police Chief Craig Martinez wasbrthere to greet her, and even asked to take a selfie with her. In a Facebookbrpost, the police department wrote in part, “… [We’re] not sure what’s morebrimpressive, the support [Pari] has for us at such a young age or that she madebrover $113 at said stand. Thank you, Pari!”
brbr
Pari told Serve Daily that doing this made herbrfeel happy.
brbr
“I felt very happy because giving somethingbraway can make you happy,” Pari said.
brbr
The 7-year-old did not leave empty-handed,brhowever. Along with her full heart, the officers sent her home with twobrSpringville Police Badges that her mom says she will cherish forever. (Brownbris a mom of nine who writes columns for many local and national publications.brShe currently resides in Payson, and enjoys looking for good happenings in herbrarea and sharing them for others to read about. For more of her stories, searchbr”A Mother’s Write” on Facebook.)
brbr
Photo: Taking selfie with Chief Craig Martinez
