Little Lemon Drops Guild: kids helping kids

The first fundraiser was a lemonade stand

By Mary Stephenson

The Little Lemon Drops Junior Guild (LLD) of Seattle Children’s Hospital was founded in 2007 by Betsy Rand and Ani Sieler with their daughters Meredith and Kate. The guild was created as a way to teach the girls how to give back to the community. Betsy’s involvement with an adult guild for many years was inspirational in helping to share the passion of giving back and volunteering with her daughter and friends.

When the guild first formed, most of the girls were 8 or 9 years old. The first fundraiser in 2008 was a neighborhood lemonade stand supported by Crayons® All-Natural Beverage Company. The guild raised $225 for the hospital.

Little Lemon Drops Guide members at their pickleball tournament

Today, the Little Lemons Drops Junior Guild is an enthusiastic group of 14 girls, ages 10 to 14 years old, who are doing what they can to help provide kids an opportunity to receive the highest quality healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay. To date, the guild has raised over $20,000 for uncompensated care at Seattle Children's Hospital!

The Little Lemons Drops meet about six times a year, including once a year at Seattle Children’s Hospital. For the past several years they have held two fundraisers each year, including an annual Pickleball event at a private home in Shoreline. The event consisted of a pickleball tournament, dinner buffet and door prizes. The highlight of each of these events were the guest patients, Skylar and Natalie, from Seattle Children’s Hospital, who spoke with the girls and attendees.

The girls hold a variety of fundraisers each year
but never lose sight of the children they are helping

Additional fundraisers have included cookie sales, handmade scrabble tile necklaces, and greeting cards at the Seattle Children’s Guild Association Annual Meeting held each spring.

On Saturday, September 22, 2012, The Little Lemon Drops Junior Guild will be hosting their 4th annual fundraiser - an Outdoor Movie Night and Raffle at the Innis Arden Clubhouse in Shoreline.  The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and the move is “The Hunger Games.”  Everyone is invited to attend.  More information about the event, raffle and the guild.   .