5 Year Old Takes on Westboro Baptist Church, Raises $10,000
Jayden Sink, 5, decided she wanted to take on Westboro Baptist Church and used her own lemonade stand to do so. Sink set up a stand across the street from the church and raised more than $10,000.
Jayden is the daughter of Jon Sink, the founder of FRESHCASSETTE – Creative Compassion. She wanted to set up the lemonade stand in front of Equality House, which is painted in the style of the pride flag after her parents explained the meaning of the house to her.
"Pink Lemonade for Peace: $1 Suggested Donation," read the sign Jayden posted out front of her stand. She managed to raise over $400 in lemonade sales alone, but others helped her raise over $10,000 through an online campaign on Crowdrise. The money went to Planting Peace, the nonprofit that owns Equality House.
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"As we all know, the Westboro Baptist Church puts a lot of hate into the world," Aaron Jackson, who bought the house now known as Equality House, told the Huffington Post in an email. "Since we cannot stop them, the next best thing is to smother it with love. That is what 5-year-old Jayden accomplished today! Jayden set up a lemonade stand in front of the church. Not only did she quench the thirst of a lot of loving supporters, the money she raised was donated to Planting Peace so she could help Planting Peace promote a more peaceful world."
Throughout the day, Westboro members attempted to quash the sales but only fueled the interest in Jayden's project. Not only did they send out tweets that are inappropriate for publishing, they mocked the girl and posted pictures alongside protest signs. The group even called police to try to stop the sales and hurled obscenities at a group of soldiers who rode to Jayden's stand on their motorcycles.
"Jayden is promoting LOVE and PEACE," Equality House tweeted. "A little lemonade goes a long way. The world could use a little more sweetness."
