Tristan Jacobson's Lemonade Stand
Donation protected
Story by Jackie Rehwald - Springfield News-Leader
Third-grader Tristan Jacobson sat patiently Friday afternoon, waiting for his next thirsty customer. For a dollar, the 9-year-old would happily crack open an ice-cold bottle of water, pour in a tiny packet of lemonade powder and shake.
And that dollar, he said, will go toward paying legal fees so Tristan can be adopted.
"She will be my parent," he said, motioning to Donnie Davis, who was watching from the front porch. "I'm happy because I have a new mom who loves me."
Tristan attends Williams Elementary School and said he's having no trouble keeping track of money and making proper change for his customers.
Math, after all, is his favorite subject.
"I'm in fractions now," he said proudly. "It's easy for me."
Davis is hosting a yard sale through 4 p.m. Saturday at their home in north Springfield. Tristan and his lemonade stand will be set up in the yard during this time. Davis said she and her husband, Jimmy, have been Tristan's kinship guardians since the boy was 5.
They hope to raise about $5,000 for legal and adoption fees. The yard sale and Tristan's lemonade stand will help.
"It means everything. He is absolutely our son. He is in our hearts," she said. "This is more for reassurance for him, knowing that he has his forever family and he has our name."
Tristan has participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks for more than two years.
Program Director Chelsea Dykman is in regular contact with the Davis family and Tristan.
"(Donnie Davis) is great. She came in hoping to get him more positive people in his life," Dykman said.
Dykman went on to explain how Tristan came to be part of the Davis family. After Tristan was born, neither biological parent could care for the child so Donnie Davis stepped in to raise him for the next couple of years.
When Tristan was 4, his biological mom briefly had custody, but things didn't work out, Donnie said. At age 5, Tristan was placed with Donnie as a kinship guardian.
Thirsty for lemonade?
Tristan Jacobson, 9, sits on a water cooler in frontBuy Photo
Tristan Jacobson, 9, sits on a water cooler in front of his lemonade stand outside his home in north Springfield on Friday, Apr. 22, 2016. Along with a yardsale, Tristan is selling lemonade to help pay for his adoption by Donnie Davis, who is his kinship guardian. (Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)
The Davis family yard sale will continue through 4 p.m. Saturday, though Tristan said he wants to sell lemonade till 8 p.m. The yard sale is at 732 W. Kerr St. in north Springfield.
Items for sale include lots of boy size 8 clothes, both summer and winter, toys, household items, kitchenware and more.
Third-grader Tristan Jacobson sat patiently Friday afternoon, waiting for his next thirsty customer. For a dollar, the 9-year-old would happily crack open an ice-cold bottle of water, pour in a tiny packet of lemonade powder and shake.
And that dollar, he said, will go toward paying legal fees so Tristan can be adopted.
"She will be my parent," he said, motioning to Donnie Davis, who was watching from the front porch. "I'm happy because I have a new mom who loves me."
Tristan attends Williams Elementary School and said he's having no trouble keeping track of money and making proper change for his customers.
Math, after all, is his favorite subject.
"I'm in fractions now," he said proudly. "It's easy for me."
Davis is hosting a yard sale through 4 p.m. Saturday at their home in north Springfield. Tristan and his lemonade stand will be set up in the yard during this time. Davis said she and her husband, Jimmy, have been Tristan's kinship guardians since the boy was 5.
They hope to raise about $5,000 for legal and adoption fees. The yard sale and Tristan's lemonade stand will help.
"It means everything. He is absolutely our son. He is in our hearts," she said. "This is more for reassurance for him, knowing that he has his forever family and he has our name."
Tristan has participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks for more than two years.
Program Director Chelsea Dykman is in regular contact with the Davis family and Tristan.
"(Donnie Davis) is great. She came in hoping to get him more positive people in his life," Dykman said.
Dykman went on to explain how Tristan came to be part of the Davis family. After Tristan was born, neither biological parent could care for the child so Donnie Davis stepped in to raise him for the next couple of years.
When Tristan was 4, his biological mom briefly had custody, but things didn't work out, Donnie said. At age 5, Tristan was placed with Donnie as a kinship guardian.
Thirsty for lemonade?
Tristan Jacobson, 9, sits on a water cooler in frontBuy Photo
Tristan Jacobson, 9, sits on a water cooler in front of his lemonade stand outside his home in north Springfield on Friday, Apr. 22, 2016. Along with a yardsale, Tristan is selling lemonade to help pay for his adoption by Donnie Davis, who is his kinship guardian. (Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)
The Davis family yard sale will continue through 4 p.m. Saturday, though Tristan said he wants to sell lemonade till 8 p.m. The yard sale is at 732 W. Kerr St. in north Springfield.
Items for sale include lots of boy size 8 clothes, both summer and winter, toys, household items, kitchenware and more.
Organizer
Brandon Alsup
Organizer
Brookline, MO
