Blum Sisters' Lemonade Stand Returns To Chappaqua Farmers Market

CHAPPAQUA, NY —With the easing of coronavirus restrictions, it’s good to start seeing some familiar faces once again — just in time for Jenna and Rebecca Blum to return to their posts at the Blum Sisters’ Lemonade Stand at the Chappaqua Farmers Market.

The Blums were not able to sell their coveted lemonade at the farmers market last year, because of coronavirus restrictions. Instead, they took a more creative approach and partnered with a local food truck from Ash and Ale pizza.

"Everyone who wanted pizza and the special lemonade they made for our event were assigned a time slot to pick up," Jenna Blum explained. "With our online donations plus money from the event itself, we raised $3,875 in total, which was surprisingly the most we ever raised."

The sisters have a goal of earning $2,000 for childhood cancer research for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation this year. To date, the pair have raised more than $15,000 by selling lemonade to thirsty shoppers at the farmers market. Despite becoming a Chappaqua institution over the past eight years, the siblings still squeeze hundreds of lemons by hand just before opening time.

For the past four years, the family has dedicated the annual lemonade stand to the memory of their grandfather, Papa Neal, who died of cancer.

"The lemonade stand meant a lot to our Papa Neal,"Jenna Blum recounted to Patch. "He was always an extremely charitable person as a long-time volunteer for Make-A-Wish and a volunteer magician to the children's hospital in RI where he lived. For the years he was with us, he was extremely proud of our efforts with the stand and our commitment to raising money for and awareness of children's cancer. After he passed away in 2016 from brain cancer we were inspired to honor him and carry on his legacy. One of his favorite sayings was when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

You can help the hardworking students reach their goal. Buy some tasty fresh-squeezed lemonade while you're at the Chappaqua Farmers Market on May 22, or donate online. The stand will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Online donations can be made here.