Idaho Police Officers Make Sweet Community Connections at Kids' Lemonade Stands
What to Know
- Twin Falls police officers and firefighters made a point of visiting local lemonade stands this summer, encouraging young entrepreneurs and highlighting positive community involvement.
- Lt. Steve Gassert helped lead the effort, sharing lemonade stand locations on social media and urging residents and first responders to stop by and support children raising money for causes ranging from soccer camp to helping military relatives.
- The visits generated enthusiastic reactions from children and praise from community members, with the department saying it hopes to continue building positive relationships through future events such as the local 9/11 memorial and National Night Out.
His social media posts encouraged residents to stop by the stands and urged other first responders to do the same.
The Twin Falls Fire Department was quick to respond.
“Nothing like some delicious ice cold lemonade after rope rescue training!” the Twin Falls Fire Department posted in early June, accompanied by a photo of firefighters stopping at a stand being run by three girls raising money for soccer camp.
Call loads prevented police officers from reaching all the lemonade stands, but multiple photos of smiling stops were posted on social media.
Kids were excited for the visits, Gassert said, and perhaps got notice beforehand that police officers might be stopping by.
Twin Falls firefighters also stopped at lemonade stands this year as a way to salute children doing positive things.
And the kids were juiced up at getting a chance to look at the police cars and get a few stickers.
The efforts of first responders gained praise from community members.
“This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen a police department do, ever,” responded resident Jason Ramsey. “Very well done, ladies and gentlemen.”
Gassert hopes for positive connections to continue in the community.
Another chance for young and old to reach out to first responders will come at the Magic Valley 9/11 Memorial at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Twin Falls Visitor Center.
The National Night Out takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Twin Falls City Park and will feature demonstrations and a free dinner.
In a closing statement on social media last month, the police department urged youth to keep “chasing those big ideas — we can’t wait to see what you do next.”
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