Cooper Lotzien and Kai Carleton started their summer lemonade stand business knowing they wanted to donate part of their profits.
But after being placed right next to the Parksville Lions Club and Rotary Club tent at the Summer by the Sea Market, they knew they’d be donating to the splash park.
The two clubs launched a campaign in May to raise $100,000 for a new splash park at the Parksville Community Park. So far they’ve reached just past the half-way point, with generous donations from people like Lotzien and Carleton helping to keep the funds growing and volunteers excited to take part in the cause.
Carleton and Lotzien donated $150, or 10 per cent of their profits, in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, they said.
“We’re delighted that you boys made the donation,” said John O’Brien, the Rotary Club’s fundraising chair for the splash park, after receiving the donation on the market’s last day of the season Tuesday, Aug. 29.
The boys are both avid users of the splash park, said Lotzien’s dad, Tim Lotzien. He added that the two boys have gotten lots of support from the business community for their lemonade stand.
“It’s been kind of a community effort.”
The Lions and Rotary clubs are nearly done selling 50/50 tickets for the splash park project, but there are a few more opportunities to purchase them. They’ll be sold at Parksville Save-on-Foods on Friday, Sept. 1, from noon to 6 p.m.; and at Parksville Quality Foods on Saturday, Sept. 2, from noon to 6 p.m.The draw for the winner will be held Wednesday, Sept. 6., at the Beach Club Resort at 8 a.m