Celebrating LemonAid’s Legacy at Its Final Event on 9/11 Anniversary

On the night of September 11, 2001, Chris Hauri and her neighbors in River Forest gathered around a firepit, reflecting on the devastating events of the day. Driven by the desire to do something meaningful for the community, Hauri and her neighbors launched LemonAid. This initiative aimed to support their locality through a block-wide lemonade stand.

Friday marked 25 years since 9/11, and for 24 years, LemonAid has been raising funds for River Forest and nearby communities’ charities. Hundreds of people from Oak Park and River Forest came together for the LemonAid event on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae to honor the anniversary. Organizers announced that this event would be its final year due to the demands involved in organizing it and the stepping down of original members.

This year’s LemonAid event was more crowded than ever, creating a joyful atmosphere, according to participants.

Throughout its run, LemonAid has raised over $700,000 for charities. In its past iterations, one or two charities benefitted each year. However, this final event aimed to distribute the funds across the nearly 30 charities supported over the years. The initiative began in 2002, with community children actively participating in charitable efforts and raising approximately $400 for the Hephzibah Children’s Association.

The event evolved into a block-wide generosity celebration, a surprise even to co-founder Patty Henek. She stated that experiencing the community’s embrace of the event is essential to appreciate its impact fully.

Many children who initially helped organize LemonAid grew into co-chair roles. They coordinated with beneficiaries, managed public relations, and handled organizational duties one last time. The spirit of LemonAid persists beyond the final event. For instance, funds from LemonAid in 2021 contributed to the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society, sponsoring a medical examination room named after the group.

We appreciate the state-of-the-art equipment in our medical exam room, said Rowena Abrahams, marketing director of the welfare society.

Earlier that day, the Oak Park community recognized the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a ceremony. Local officials gathered at Fire Station 1 to honor those impacted by the attacks. They rang a bell for the civilians and safety officials who died and read names of fallen safety officials.

Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson highlighted the unity displayed post-9/11, emphasizing the public safety community’s selflessness in protecting others.