Students Raise Funds to Help Support JoeAnna’s House

A group of students from Shuswap Middle School sold lemonade to help support JoeAnna’s House in Kelowna!

Teacher Milana Cecco explains that the family of one of her students, Benett, stayed at JoeAnna’s House when his younger sister, Hattie, was born premature in 2021. For several years now, his young sister and family take part in Good Lemonade Day on June 14 and sell lemonade at the Salmon Arm Farmer’s Market with the proceeds going to support JoeAnna’s House.

Cecco’s class decided to sell lemonade at Shuswap Middle School at lunch time and add their funds to what Hattie raises on Good Lemonade Day! They were thrilled to raise $480!

Built by the hearts & hands of our community, JoeAnna’s house offers affordable, on-site accommodations for out-of-town families with loved ones receiving care at Kelowna General Hospital. It features 20 family rooms, a contemporary communal cooking space, cozy common areas and other home-like amenities including laundry facilities. It is a home-away-from-home that keeps families together when they need to be together most. JoeAnna’s House is owned & operated by the KGH Foundation and is entirely supported by donations.

After using the services of JoeAnna’s House a few years ago when their daughter was born premature, Salmon Arm mom Kayla Vannieuwenhuizens, along with her family, wanted to do something to help give back to the home that welcomed them so kindly in their time of need. Since that time they have been participating in Good Lemonade Day, a fundraiser supporting JoeAnna’s House.

Vannieuwenhuizens explains that when their daughter Hattie was born at 33 weeks in 2021, they stayed at JoeAnna’s House for several weeks and the support they received there during such a challenging time was invaluable. “Participating in this event allows us to give back to a place that played such a big role in our journey to where we all are today. I love being able to share this experience with Hattie – it’s a wonderful way for her to learn about kindness, community, and the power of helping others. Our hope is that she continues this lemonade stand for decades and having started so young, that it teaches her, and our other children that they can make a real difference, no matter how young they are.”