HAMPTON, Va. - This is not your average lemonade stand set up in a Hampton neighborhood at the corner of Hardy Cash and Peabody Drive, and it's catching a lot of attention.
Folks passing by, like Juanita Staton, said, "I saw the sign. When I saw the sign [that said] 'donate,' I donated. I didn't ask any questions. I didn't want to buy anything. I just gave."
The sign by the lemonade stand says it all: "Raising money for single mothers." And that's what they're doing.
Between the snacks and the lemonade, they have already raised more than to buy diapers to give to single mothers - all for free.
Cartier Carey is the organizer.
"I wanted to help single mothers during this pandemic because they're struggling and doing everything on their own," he said.
He's just 11 years old, and this is a part of his non-profit organization, Kids 4 Change 757.
Customers like Mary Adams think it's great an 11-year-old is behind all of this.
"I feel that's really good, and I'm really glad they're aware things like that are going on in the world - that single mothers might not be able to support their kids on their own and they're trying to help," she said.
How does it make Cartier feel, knowing he's making a difference?
"It makes me feel happy because God wants you to do exactly what we're doing right now. He wants you to help the community and make the community better," Cartier told us.
Related: Norfolk barber takes his show on the road to help community
His mother, Britany Stewart, says she really doesn't have to help that much.
"Well, actually the money they've made... at the end of the night, they'll go to Walmart, buy more diapers and then they'll buy new stuff to sell the next day. So, it's pretty much them; we're just their transportation," she explained.
For those reasons, News 3 presented Cartier with a People Taking Action Award along with a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner, Southern Bank.
Mom says she's very proud, adding, "Yes, I really am. It's just... it's just his character - that's just Cartier. He's always been like that."
For more information on Kids 4 Change 757, click here.
To nominate someone for a People Taking Action Award, email us at takingaction@wtkr.com.
