Teen's Lemonade for Rainforest Campaign Coming to a Close

After seven years, one Eastport girl is hanging up a lucrative summer business that helped benefit rainforests.

Josalyn Bonney, 13, a student at St. Anne’s School, will host her final lemonade stand Thursday with proceeds benefiting the Rainforest Foundation. She first started the stand at age 6.

Bonney’s drinks are made from organic lemons and sugar donated by Whole Foods in Annapolis, ice from Davis Pub, and support from O'Leary's—all of which took a liking to her cause.

But why lemonade, and why rainforests?

“I wanted to help to save rainforests, because I didn’t know the world could be in such bad disrepair. Also, I love lemonade, and I love rainforests. So it made sense,” she said.

Bonney said she first became interested in rainforests in first grade, during a series of lessons on them while at St. Martin’s School.

Since then, she’s hosted a lemonade stand off and on every summer, and it’s always been a hit. Bonney said each year, she racks up hundreds of dollars for the good cause.

The lines for the cool, sweet beverage get particularly long in Eastport after the fireworks display in the Annapolis Harbor.

As for why she’s hanging it up, Bonney said her interests have diversified, and she’s progressively finding her summer time stretched thin.

“I have other interest now because I want to be a veterinarian,” she said, adding that she hopes to volunteer with the ASPCA this summer.

If you’re interested in tasting some of Bonney’s lemonade, she will be in Eastport at the corner of First Street and Chesapeake Avenue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., then open again after the fireworks display is over.

If you're interested in more information about Bonney's lemonade stand, check out her Facebook group page online.