08/10/2026
A LITTLE FUNDRAISER, A LOT OF LIFE LESSONS
Sunday evening we held our second Slice the Price fundraiser, and while the weather certainly wasn’t on our side, we showed up anyway.
That’s something we wanted our students to learn through this experience: perseverance means showing up even when things don’t go exactly as planned. We had a few people who weren’t able to make it tonight, but the students who did show up stuck it out, and they did an awesome job.
Despite the weather, we finished the evening with $146.25 raised! ❤️
But honestly, the money ended up being only a small part of what happened tonight.
At one point, a lady left her lights on and came back to a car that wouldn’t start. We were happy to help her get it jumped off. We also had the opportunity to support the lady set up beside us selling cookies. Sometimes fundraising isn’t just about what you can raise for yourself, it’s about supporting the people around you, too.
Then came one of those moments that makes you stop and think.
A lady stopped and made a donation. She told us that someone had blessed her earlier that day, and she wanted to pay it forward.
That really stuck with us.
About 30 minutes later, a gentleman pulled up on a bicycle and started talking with us. His name was John, and as we talked, we realized he wasn’t from Pacolet at all. One of our students shared some lemonade with him, and our conversation naturally turned into one of those “Where are you from? Where are you going? Where have you been?” conversations.
We found out John was from Waxhaw, NC, and was traveling by bicycle toward Chimney Rock then back towards Asheville, NC. We’re still not exactly sure what brought him through Pacolet but he started his day from Lockhart, but we sure were glad it did.
John had picked some peaches along his journey and wanted to trade them with us. Of course, we gladly accepted his generous donation of peaches.
Then came another opportunity to pay it forward.
John didn’t have any money for food, so we gave him the rest of our bagged chips and snacks for his journey. It felt pretty special to take the blessing someone had given us earlier in the evening and pass that kindness along to someone else.
It only takes one person to start something.
One person chooses to be kind.
One person chooses to help.
One person chooses to give.
And suddenly, that kindness keeps moving.
Tonight reminded us that there really are great people out there. Sometimes you just have to get out into the community and take the time to meet them.
And to everyone who saw us tonight and maybe tried to scuffle on by, we really weren’t trying to interrupt your evening or pressure you into buying anything. We genuinely just wanted to offer you a FREE cup of lemonade with absolutely no obligation. Consider it our little contribution for interrupting your moment.
Thank you to everyone who stopped, talked with us, supported our students, bought a card, donated, shared a smile, or simply took a cup of lemonade.
Tonight was about so much more than a fundraiser.
It was about showing up.
It was about perseverance.
It was about community.
And most importantly, it was about being kind.
Please keep John in your prayers as he continues his bicycle journey toward Chimney Rock and back home. We’re thankful our paths crossed, even if just for a little while.
And thank you, Pacolet, for reminding our students that sometimes the biggest blessings come from simply showing up and being willing to help.
