Helping children through free lemonade

STURGIS, S.D. (KELO) — What started as a way to buy a new Lego set has grown into something riders from all over look forward to during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Wyatt Dennis has been offering free lemonade during the rally the past few years to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

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Riders from all over the world have stopped by this lemonade stand each year to stay hydrated for a good cause.

“So that was one of my first thoughts when I wanted to do a lemonade stand. Because I saw the bikers going down the highway and I was like, they look hot, so I wanted to keep them hydrated,” Wyatt Dennis said.

This stop is a good place to keep hydrated while riding in the Black Hills.

“We always keep a whole bunch of ice water in our packs and stop whenever we start feeling too hot and try to find a place to cool off. Water it’s what we do, just bring a whole bunch of water or find little places like this to stop and get hydrated,” Oklahoma rider Samantha Jo said.

A big component of this free lemonade stand is that Wyatt’s parents are teaching him all about how to spend money that he earns, how to save money, and how to give money to those who are in need.

Samantha Jo rode in from Oklahoma and made sure to stop by after seeing Wyatt’s lemonade on Facebook to support his cause.

“I read about him and I thought it was the coolest thing that I’ve seen. Not a lot of kids these days are about helping others or doing for others so I thought it was pretty cool that a little guy like him was all for it,” Jo said.

Since 2020, Wyatt’s Lemonade has raised $75,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Wyatt hopes to reach the 100,000 mark this year.

“So we said $25,000 would be a good goal and if you reach that and this is our fifth year. If you reach that it would be kinda like an anniversary celebration,” Dennis said.

Wyatt’s Lemonade stand will continue to give out free lemonade up through the end of the Rally on Sunday.