LAKEWOOD - Few 7-year-olds are as business-minded or philanthropic as Grace and Bella Erchul.
To combat this summer's scorching heat, the twins from Lakewood decided to cool off by making lemonade. But the girls aren't just making lemonade, they're selling it to anyone who walks by and donating 5 cents from every cup sold to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The girls were inspired to donate their profits to the SPCA through their love of their Westie terrier. The drive to start their own enterprise, however, was undoubtedly kindled by their entrepreneur mother.
Article Photos
Grace and Bella Erchul, 7, sell lemonade outside their mom’s shop.
P-J photo by Nicholena Moon
Amber Erchul encouraged the idea of starting a lemonade stand and the girls did the rest.
"At first I intended it to be a good intro to business, since I'm a business owner," she said. "But the girls emptied their piggy banks and spent $50 to make the stand and buy the lemonade, the cups and everything."
The twins have been at it for 10 days, and have raised more than $100 for the SPCA. Erchul has always been a big proponent of charity in business, she said.
"As a business owner I have always given 1 percent of my profits to St. Jude, so I gave them a list of places they could donate to, and of course they picked the cute furry animals," she said with a smile.
Despite the heat, the girls are out selling their refreshments every day the shop is open, from Wednesday through Saturday.
"They try to be out there every day, but you know kids," Erchul said.
If you have a craving for some fresh lemonade, stop down and visit Grace and Bella outside their mom's shop, A Page In Time, at 50 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood.