As the warmer weather heads our way a nice cold glass of homemade lemonade would definitely hit the spot.
With that thought in mind, meet Miss Callee Rose Connon. She and her Bikes for Buddies lemonade stand have been around for years.
“This is my sixth year,” Connon said.
Now this 12-year-old doesn’t charge a penny for the lemonade, but you are more than welcome to leave a tip.
Enough people did that last year for the St. Petersburg girl to buy and donate 72 brand-new bicycles, as well as 60 used bikes and 52 helmets to kids living in homeless shelters to help make it a merry Christmas.
“I go to Toys-R-Us and Walmart and I find wherever the best deals are for whatever bikes I need and I’ll go and buy them,” Connon said.
Connon sets up her stand at various locations throughout the year and, with the help of the folks at the Christmas Toy Shop, gets the bikes ready to be given to youngsters through numerous agencies.
“It makes me feel really good ‘cause whenever I’ve gotten a bike for Christmas I just like seeing the bike and knowing that I’m gonna ride that bike like anywhere I can ride that bike.”
Connon’s goal this year is for at least 100 new bicycles.
And about being thought of as a hero?
“Well it’s actually really cool ‘cause then that means other people are inspired by what I do and other people will do the same or do something similar or just make a change in their community,” Connon said.