This week’s “Thankful Thursday” would like to commend the actions of the community of Naperville, Illinois and the Naperville Police Department for their joint efforts in helping 11-year-old Alizay Kashif recover from a robbery of $9 from her lemonade stand. Alizay had planned to donate whatever she earned to Feeding America, a hunger relief organization based in Chicago.

After two and a half hours, Alizay sold only $9 worth of lemonade. Kashif Zaman, Alizay’s father felt sorry for his daughter so he offered to buy some of her snacks and drinks. Alizay told her father that she really needed some real customers. Shortly after, two teenagers arrived and asked Alizay how much her lemonade costed. The teenagers said they would return with cash to buy some lemonade. The teenagers did return along with two others in a car. They proceeded to rob Alizay of her only $9 and then drove off.

Seeing how upset Alizay was, her father posted on the social media platform Nextdoor about the robbery. In response to his post, over 50 replies were received. People encouraged Alizay to keep selling lemonade and to notify the police of the robbery.

Former television news reporter Ben Hutchinson who saw the post invited Alizay to set up her lemonade stand in front of his house, in a part of town that has more traffic.

When Alizay set up her lemonade stand again on Sunday morning, she was greeted by dozens of eager neighbors who had read her story on Nextdoor. Alizay noticed that sales of her lemonade drinks were booming. Alizay soon saw a motorcade of Naperville police cars arrive with their sirens blaring. They had taken up a collection at the station, and presented Alizay with an additional $170 to donate to her cause.

Alizay raised a total of $348, which Feeding America says will help to feed over 6,000 hungry families across the nation. “I can only imagine being hungry, getting to help hungry people is an honor and a blessing.” Alizay told Feeding America. The sweetness continued long after the last glass of lemonade was sold when Alizay hand-delivered her earnings to Feeding America.