HOLDEN — Imagine setting up a lemonade stand to raise funds for a good cause, expecting the usual casual traffic, and a bus full of thirsty college hockey players pulls up.
This was the case for Sophie Marchalewicz, 9, and her little brother Luke Marchalewicz, 8, who decided to raise funds for the Worcester Animal Rescue League by selling lemonade in their Holden neighborhood earlier this month.
Their mother Andrea Marchalewicz said they were “so excited to see the huge bus” full of members of the Anna Maria College women’s ice hockey team stop by that day.
“They felt like the luckiest kids,” Andrea said. “Their eyes widened as they saw the women’s ice hockey team members walk off the bus to order a dozen lemonades. The team members were really fun, and chatted with the kids about what sports they play and made their first lemonade stand unforgettable. Anna Maria College definitely has some new fans!”
The mom of two said her children raised $33.40 for WARL and “can’t wait to donate it so they can see the animals they are helping at the shelter.”
“Sophie and Luke are very thankful for those who stopped by to buy lemonade,” Andrea said.
Anna Maria junior Carly Drew, 21, was one of the 15 hockey players on the bus. The psychology major with a minor in education said that, as fate would have it, they happened to be in the right place at the right time to make the children’s day.
“Unfortunately, it all started because our bus broke down,” the Rochester native shared. “We heard this noise, so the bus ended up pulling into this development to fix it up before heading back to school. In order to turn around, we had to make our way down the road, and that’s where the lemonade stand was. The kids were screaming and flagging us down, so I asked the bus driver to stop.
“Fortunately, the bus driver had cash on him and gave us $10 to get some lemonade from the kids,” she continued. “They were so excited to see the bus pull up and see some of the girls come out. They thought the bus was huge and filled with so many players; it was so cute. They were all helping each other get us lemonade and take care of the money. They even answered some of our questions about what sports they played. They had great customer service.”
Drew, who plays both defense and offense on the NCAA Division III Amcats hockey team, said they ended up buying “half of their supply,” and that the kids “were very excited to make some money.”
“We were all excited to have a glass of lemonade and make the children’s day,” she said. “We were proud to represent the Amcats within our community and provide a kind gesture to these kids. I can’t imagine how these kids felt seeing a whole bus come up to their lemonade stand. We were just happy to help their business and get some delicious lemonade.”
Drew said she has aspired to be a college athlete ever since she was little, “not for the fame, the money, or the resume, but to inspire kids that they too can do whatever they set their mind to.”
“I always looked up to professional athletes who would be giving back to their communities and taking time out of their busy schedules to provide services to the younger generations,” she added. “I believe that everything happens for a reason. Little did I know that the bus breaking down would turn into something positive.”
She said she and her teammates were thrilled they ended up at the lemonade stand and in turn were able to support the humanitarian efforts of Sophie and Luke.
“We just wanted to help out our community in a positive way,” Drew said. “Lemonade stands are something that I always have to stop at, because it is inspiring to see children wanting to make an impact that may seem small but will go a long way. To help these children start their journey is important to me and provides me with joy. Seeing their faces after you give them a dollar bill for lemonade is heartwarming. Children are so pure, and it just reminds me how one act of kindness can go so far.”
