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Cops, firefighters support Surrey boy’s lonely lemonade stand

Parker, 7, had few takers until Surrey first responders heard his call

Cloverdale’s Parker Holbeche-Boyer decided to set up a free lemonade stand in front of his house yesterday afternoon, to do something good for his neighbourhood.

He made some pink lemonade, created signs to advertise his free product, and set up cups on his Spider-Man card table on the front walk of his Clayton home.

“Free lemonade!” he shouted to passing cars. “Get your free lemonade!”

“He gave it his all,” said Parker’s mom, Jessica Boyer. “[He] stood there waving his sign for over two hours, offering — and perhaps scaring — passing walkers and motorists free lemonade.”

But, despite the seven-year-old’s best advertising efforts, he didn’t get a lot of takers.

“I made a few calls. Posted a few Facebook posts, and let me just say that the outpouring of community support was incredible,” said Boyer. “At one point I had to clear my throat to stop the tears of joy.”

“Recently Clayton has been in the news for some weird and scary things. Bullets, drugs, guns, crime scene tape and more sirens than you’d hope to hear in this neighbourhood. But [yesterday] there wasn’t anything like that,” she said. “We thought we would spread some cheer and wow. Just wow!”

One of the phone calls that Boyer made was to Cloverdale’s RCMP detachment, and the Cloverdale fire hall. Boyer and Parker wanted to offer them “something happy when often their days are only filled with people in distress,” she said.

Cloverdale’s emergency responders heard the call — and showed up in style. A fire engine, as well as several police vehicles, swung by Parker’s stand to have a refreshing glass of lemonade on Thursday (July 18).

“It was incredible to see the outpouring of support from everyone,” said Boyer. “It was wonderful.”

Although the lemonade was offered for free, many donations were made. Parker’s tip cup filled up with $65, which he plans to give to the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn Fund.



editor@cloverdalereporter.com

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Cloverdale’s Parker Holbeche-Boyer had some special customers at his free lemonade stand on Thursday, July 18, when Surrey RCMP members and firefighters came by for a glass. (Contributed)