Last year, five-year-old Avery Lemmon wanted to try to raise money for the Sapulpa Police Department, specifically to help them get “healthy lunches.” She decided to sell lemonade in front of her house and when word began to get out, people came from all over to help Avery raise the money.
Fast forward a year, and she’s done it again—this time, a special campaign dedicated to “Lemmonade for Police Puppies” was helping to raise funds for the small but growing K-9 department.
Instead of holding the event at her home, Avery’s mom Sara worked with Sapulpa Main Street to reserve the use of Martha’s Corner from noon to six pm in downtown Sapulpa.
Add in music, snacks, free lawn ornaments, family games and lots of love from Pepper, the police department’s newest K-9 officer, and the event turned into a very special success.
Though the area has been under the threat of rain for the last several days, it held off all afternoon, allowing a cool but humid time for family to sit and enjoy the music by Roger Johnson and the Moon River Reservation band, which had incidentally, just been at that same spot the day before, for Food Truck Fridays (also a good success).
Officer, Byrnes brought Pepper by early and often throughout the day for the children to see at the Lemmonade Stand. Byrnes has become Pepper’s official handler, and has adopted her completely, meaning when Pepper retires, she’ll continue to live with Byrnes throughout the remainder of her career.
Pepper, who previously belonged to the Kellyville Police Department, was donated to Sapulpa by Kellyville Police Chief Shelly Garrett. Byrnes saw the opportunity as the chance to do something she’s always wanted to. “I’ve wanted to be a K-9 officer since I was little,” she told Sapulpa Times at the event on Saturday.
Pepper is Sapulpa’s second K-9 officer to join the force since Valor became a part of the team a few years ago. Byrnes says already another dog is being trained to join, and Sapulpa will gain it’s third K-9 officer sometime in August or September.
Avery Lemmon, the heart and orchestrator behind this event, ensured not only that everyone who donated $1.00 or more got a fresh cup of “lemmonade,” but when she wasn’t taking care of customers, she was helping in other ways—most notably pulling staples out of the trees in the park with a pair of pliers. Avery’s mother said the six-year-old wants to be a doctor. “She says the trees have owies.”
Officers visited throughout the day, including Police Chief Mike Reed, all wanting to meet the girl who was raising money for the department, and get pictures with her or the dog.
At the end of the day, the total amounted to $488.15. “She’s amazing,” her mother said.
