By Taylah Eastwell
Two compassionate Montrose brothers have set up shop at the end of their driveway in order to raise money for those experiencing homelessness.
Eight-year-old Koen and his six-year-old brother Arlo created a lemonade and scone stand at the end of their driveway on Monday 7 June, in hopes of raising money for local homeless support organisation Holy Fools.
With lemons purchased from neighbours backyard trees and a little help from mum, Jen Zigmantas, the young entrepreneurs made homemade lemonade, scones and cream and battled with the wind to keep their shopfront looking perfect.
Koen said he first learnt about the homeless when he saw a woman sitting out the front of the shops.
“I was going to my nans and we saw this person sitting down near the shops and she asked if I had any spare change, I said no I don’t, so I wanted to raise some money for the homeless,” Koen said.
“The homeless don’t have a home and I was super sad for them, so I wanted to raise money to give them somewhere to live or at least a bed so they can sleep,” he said.
The idea of a lemonade stand came after the neighbourhood kids got together during last years lockdown to make some spare change.
The big hearts and initiatve of Koen and his younger brother has made mum, Jen, “super proud”.
Ms Zigmantas said the boys are coincidentally learning about kindness at school, so Koen’s idea was quite fitting with homeschooling.
“I feel like this is a good way of learning about money and giving and kindness. It was great of Koen to think of doing something to help other people,” she said.
