Katie Fernandez, 11, and Shyyra Wittmayer, 12, set up a stand off Larkspur Drive where they sold freshly squeezed orange juice for 50 cents a cup last week to raise funds for the La Mesa Police and Fire departments.
Customers stopping by could also sign posters with messages of support for first responders who were called upon to squash fires ignited in La Mesa when a peaceful protest calling for an end to police brutality turned violent after a confrontation between police and protestors May 30.
“I live in La Mesa and it’s pretty destroyed so we’re raising money to help out,” Shyyra said.
The young ladies set up their two-day operation in the residential green near where Shyyra’s grandmother lives in the Alpine neighborhood.
“I live in La Mesa but we’re staying here with my grandma right now. My dad woke me up on Saturday night and said, ‘We gotta go now,’ so we came here where we’d all be safe,” Shyyra said.
She told her family she wanted to do something to help La Mesa after residents began to take stock of the damage.
“Shyyra told me how badly things were burnt down so I want ed to do something to help,” Katie said.
According to Katie’s mom, Amy Fernandez, the girls decided to open up their juice stand as a fundraiser and asked for help to gather supplies but put the project together entirely on their own.
“You know, we were sitting at home on Saturday night, watching and we were just shocked. We’re adults and to think how this sort of thing affects kids…” Fernandez said.
“Well, I think it is pretty darn cool for them to have this response and take it upon themselves to do something good. I’m so proud of their altruistic endeavor.”
According to Alpine resident Suzie Curtis, the young ladies hung up a sign there in the neighborhood and let locals know they would be setting up their stand, and asked people to support their project.
Although the girls had sold less than ten cups of orange juice by mid-Wednesday afternoon, they both said it was fun and worthwhile to set up the stand.
“Even if they don’t end up selling a whole lot, you know, with so much going on in the world right now, it is so good to see young people taking an interest and responding with positive behavior. I’m always touched to see things like this. I think it is important we recognize when young people look at a situation and decide they want to be part of a solution,” Curtis said.
