A remarkable 5-year-old from Seattle is challenging the notion that age limits one's ability to make a difference in the world through acts of kindness.
Edison Juel, affectionately known as Eddie, was vacationing with his family on Hawaii's Big Island when the devastating wildfires struck Maui. The fires claimed the lives of 115 individuals and wrought near-total destruction upon the town of Lahaina. Upon hearing news reports about the tragedy, Eddie's heartwarming response surprised his parents.
"It was Wednesday afternoon, we had the news on and he asked me to turn it off, because he said that made him too sad," revealed Eddie's mother, Ami Juel, in an interview with USA TODAY. "At that point, I realized he really was paying attention and listening, that we needed to actually address it. I hadn't really intended to tell him about it necessarily."
Eddie's connection to Lahaina, where his family had stayed earlier that year, made the situation all the more personal. His parents explained the fires and their location to him, reassuring him of his safety but also emphasizing the scale of the tragedy. This ignited something within young Eddie, prompting him to want to help in any way he could.
Several weeks later, following their return from the trip, Eddie proposed the idea of setting up a lemonade stand—similar to one he had encountered during a prior visit to Colorado—with all proceeds directed toward supporting the wildfire victims. His parents immediately embraced the concept and organized the stand on a bustling Seattle street.
The stand, which offered pink and yellow lemonade, sparkling water, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, candy, and even some of Eddie's toys, operated from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The response was overwhelming. Eddie's mother shared videos on social media, informing friends and family about the initiative. Although lemonade was priced at one dollar per cup, many patrons generously donated $5, $10, or $20 bills in support of the cause.
The success of the endeavor was beyond what Eddie's parents had expected. A continuous stream of cars queued up to purchase refreshments, while numerous people contributed online, including an individual from Honolulu who learned about the venture through local news coverage.
Ami mentioned that the stand, along with online donations and corporate matching programs, had raised over $17,000 by Friday. Eddie, though he had to record a multitude of thank-you videos for Venmo donations, thoroughly enjoyed the process. He particularly relished providing customers with detailed explanations of the products at the stand.
Ami and her husband were amazed by Eddie's ingenuity and compassion, and they were thrilled to support his positive initiative.
"Struck by how his generosity invited others to be generous," said Ami. "It was not something we could have orchestrated for him so it was nice to see that was an idea he has."
