Fifth Graders Sell Lemonade to Help Save their Beloved Teacher’s Dog

(L-R) Dani Hill, Keira Reilly, Mrs. Gonzalez, Winston the French Bulldog, and Abbott Lynch and the lemonade stand. 

When local Kings Highway Elementary School fifth graders found out that their teacher’s dog was sick - three students took it upon themselves to set up a lemonade stand in the Kings Highway North neighborhood to help raise money for the pup’s GoFundMe campaign - and pass on the kindness she instilled in them.

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Winston, a one year old French Bulldog, was diagnosed with Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). According to his campaign, IVDD is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst into the spinal cord space - causing great pain to the little dog. Treatment and pain management has proved an expensive journey for the family, which prompted the GoFundMe campaign to be started by friends of the local educator and her family. Winston’s owner, “Mrs. Gonzalez”, is one of the beloved fifth grade teachers at Kings Highway Elementary School.

So loved, in fact, that three of Mrs. Gonzales’ fifth grade students - Keira, Dani, and Abbot - decided they wanted to help the campaign. They designed a sign and began selling lemonade on the corner of Kings Highway North and Wright street last week. This weekend, Mrs. Gonzales brought Winston by the lemonade stand for his few minutes outdoors - the kids being able to meet the small frenchie they were working so hard to help. And today, on the last day of school, they’ll present their teacher with the funds they raised towards Winston’s treatments.

The trio of good kids want to make sure Westport Local Press readers know that donations can still be made to Winston’s GoFundMe campaign. Click here to donate to Winston’s campaign - let them know that the Lemonade Stand kids sent you.

Editor’s Note

Whether it be in the classroom or on Zoom, our schools’ students have learned not only academics from their teachers - but kindness, empathy, strength, and grit during some of the toughest times our education system may ever face. If your family has a teacher, paraeducator, or other school staff member who made a difference in your child’s life - email us with who they are and why they made a difference, and we’ll celebrate them as the school year comes to a close. It’s apparent in this story that Mrs. Gonzales made a difference in these three children’s lives, and through a simple cup of lemonade, they’re passing it forward.