OUR LEMON LOVE STORY
Lemonade Stand Day was born out of one family’s desire to give back.
Monita Chapman, a mom of three and owner of Simply Supper, was searching for a way for her young daughters to contribute to their community. However, she found that meaningful, age-appropriate volunteer opportunities for kids were hard to come by.
In the summer of 2014, while hosting a garage sale, her daughters, Brooklyn and Daniella, set up a small lemonade stand. They raised $76, which they proudly donated to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation to thank the hospital for the care their family had received earlier that spring. That simple act of kindness sparked what is known today as, Simply Supper’s Lemonade Stand Day.
Later that summer, Monita created 30 Lemonade Stand Day kits through Simply Supper and distributed them to families in southwest Edmonton. Her idea was to unite these families in a shared effort to raise funds for a local charity—and just like that, Lemonade Stand Day was born.
What began as a small, heartfelt initiative has grown into a beloved annual tradition. Each summer for more than a decade, more kids and families have joined the movement, raising more money and spreading more #lemonlove across YEG. Lemonade Stand Day has evolved into more than just a fundraiser—it’s a community event that empowers children of all ages to make a real impact.
Held on the last Sunday of August each year, Lemonade Stand Day allows Stollery families and supporters across Edmonton to give back. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of “Junior Lemon Squeezers,” the event has supported essential programs, funded medical research, purchased vital equipment, and, most recently, helped open two “Lemon Love Rooms”— which are welcoming family spaces within the Stollery at the University of Alberta Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital NICU.
Lemonade Stand Day continues to be organized by Monita and her husband Denny, along with their children Brooklyn, Daniella and Hunter, and a dedicated Junior Committee made up of youth aged 10 to 20.
For over a decade, Simply Supper’s Lemonade Stand Day has raised an incredible $2.5 million for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, with nearly 10,000 young participants helping drive the mission forward. It’s a beautiful example of what happens when a community rallies together—and empowers its youngest members to lead the way.
The History
2014 Our 30 stands raised over $4,000 in support of the Ronald MacDonald House
2015 Our 75 stands raised over $22,000 in support of Camp Everest
2016 Our 135 stands raised over $50,000 in support of the Music Therapy Program
2017 Our 250 stands raised over $140,000 in support of the purchase of Portable Children’s Heart Monitors
2018 Our 450 stands raised over $227,000 in support the renovation of The Beach at the Stollery Hospital
2019 Our 560 stands raised over $257,000 in support of the purchase of Giraffe CareStation Omnibeds at the Stollery’s NICU at the Royal Alexandra Hospital
2020 Our 250 stands raised over $168,000 in support of the Art Therapy Program
2021 Our 350 stands raised over $333,000in support of the Lemon Love Room at the Stollery Children’s Hospital
2022 Our 420 stands raised over $355,960 in support of the Stollery Hospital’s Simulation Program
2023 Our 520 stands raised over $470,100 in Support of the Lemon Love Bears Den at the Royal Alexander Hospital NICU
2024 Our 575 stands raised over $465,000 in support of the Stollery Pediatric Diabetes Centre (PDEC)
