New Hampshire

Youth movement; Young people step up for a good cause

By Margo Sullivan
Staff writer
Published: August 25, 2008

SALEM — A lemonade stand is usually a hard way to make a dime, but 10-year-old Colleen Parisi saw her sales go through the roof once she started giving all the money to the Salem Animal Rescue League.

"Well, I don't know how it changed it," said Colleen, who only the day before had been selling lemonade to make money for herself and sweating it out at the corner of Sullivan and Veronica avenues.

The Salem girl and her brother Michael, 11, have plenty of experience with lemonade, but Colleen was barely able to squeeze $8 worth of lemonade in an hour's work before she and a friend decided to call it a day.

A day later, when friends Maddie Hill, 11, and her sister Katrina, 14, came over to sell lemonade, the whole outlook changed. Katrina suggested using the stand to raise money for the shelter because their family dog, Casey, a mixed black Lab and border collie, was adopted from the Salem Animal Rescue League.

"She's a really nice dog," Maddie said. "And there were so many animals there that needed help." Over the next two days, the children worked 14 or 15 hours, and the lemonade stand was a success.

Colleen estimated the neighborhood gang, which also included James Dublin and Natalie Gillen, raised $125 in bills and $16 in change. They also collected several bags of cat and dog food along with pet treats. Some people bought drinks and also gave donations. The mail carrier, for example, gave them $10 and all the change in his pockets, Maddie said.

Ray Denis, development director for the Salem Animal Rescue League, said it may surprise people to know that for the past 18 months, the shelter has received more donations than ever from children stepping up for a good cause.

Lemonade stands are just one way children get involved, he said. The Girl Scouts have collected items the shelter needs, and youngsters are asking family members to provide gifts to the shelter, instead of giving them presents on their birthday.

"It's a new trend and a very healthy one," he said. "The new generation of children are being taught to give back to society in a way they have never been taught before."

The causes popular with local children have also included donating to soldiers overseas and research to cure diseases.

Gianna Cavaliere, 9, of Londonderry, for example, chose the soldiers as her cause because of a history lesson she learned through her American Girl doll, Molly. According to the story, Molly's father was a doctor who served during World War II, and Molly raised money to buy bandages to help him.

"That was very nice," Gianna said. "I would like to help, too. I admire people who keep me safe the most." At South School, she had already raised $516 for a scholarship fund. This time, Gianna decided to see if she could set a higher goal for helping the soldiers and show that people really care.

"They've been donating so much," she said. "I'm sure the soldiers will like it."

Gianna said she made $50 her first day standing in front of Leach Library. But she topped that sum the next day when Maj. Dale Coparanis of the 167th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, based at the Londonderry Reserve Center, decided to drop by and thank her personally — in uniform.

"I felt like a celebrity," he said with a laugh because people started snapping his picture on the library steps.

Coparanis said he was on his way to the selectmen's office from a speaking engagement at the Granite State Business Network in Manchester. When the businessmen heard Gianna's story, they passed the hat and collected $50, which Coparanis delivered.

"I was totally impressed," he said. "She was doing something from her heart. She doesn't even have any family or friends in the military overseas."

Coparanis said he was touched that the youngsters see the good the soldiers do and see past the negative views about the military.

"It's very nice," Gianna said. "I would like to keep it going."

Michael said they really put their hearts into selling the lemonade.

"Some people were very surprised," Maddie added. "They think of kids trying to get all the money they can." She thought people gave because they decided, "All right, these kids aren't just being selfish."