Menu
Menu
Menu
At Lemons to Lemonade, our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing space for kids and teens who have tragically experienced the loss of a family member or loved one. Our philosophy centers around embracing adversity and transforming it into something meaningful and refreshing, just like turning lemons into a delightful glass of lemonade. Through our programs, we aim to empower them with the tools, resources, and emotional support they need to navigate their grief journey with a zest for making the best out of every situation. We foster a community of friendship, understanding, and positivity, where kids can share their experiences, find solace, and discover their own resilience. Join us on this empowering journey as we squeeze out the sweetness from life’s lemons and discover the limitless potential within ourselves.
Lemons to Lemonade is the heartfelt creation of Sophia Donald and Avery Lind, two young girls who turned their personal stories of grief into a powerful mission to help others. Both Sophia and Avery lost a parent at an early age—Sophia’s father passed away when she was just five, and Avery’s mother died of cancer when she was only three. These shared experiences of loss brought them together, forming a deep friendship rooted in empathy, understanding, and a mutual desire to make a difference.
Sophia’s journey of healing began at the Center for Good Grief in Memphis, TN, where she found a safe space to express her emotions and process her grief. The center became a sanctuary for her, teaching her valuable coping strategies through creative activities and peer support. Avery, meanwhile, found comfort at New York’s Compassionate Kids Club, a supportive program that offered her a sense of belonging during her difficult early years without her mother.
When Sophia later moved to Orange County, California, she was struck by the lack of grief support resources available for children in her new community. Realizing how crucial such programs had been in her own healing process, she felt a strong desire to create something similar for grieving children in Orange County. Inspired by her time at the Center for Good Grief, Sophia wrote Lemons to Lemonade: A Grief Workbook, hoping to share the strategies that had helped her with others.
Not long after, Sophia approached Avery with an idea: to start a grief camp for kids like them. Avery, having also felt the absence of support programs for grieving children in their community, immediately agreed. Together, they co-founded Lemons to Lemonade, a camp designed to empower children who have faced the loss of a loved one.
Through their involvement with the Dragon Kim Foundation and St. Margaret’s William N. Moseley Venture to Serve Project, Sophia and Avery were able to turn their dream into reality. With leadership training, funding, and mentorship, they launched their first Lemons to Lemonade Grief Camp, supported by St. Margaret’s Episcopal School as part of their community-driven initiative. The camp blends fun, creativity, and healing, allowing children to express their emotions through art, outdoor activities, and group sharing, all in a safe, nurturing environment.
After completing the Dragon Kim Fellowship Program, Sophia and Avery decided to continue their mission by creating a nonprofit. Their goal is to ensure that grieving children in Orange County have a space to connect, heal, and build resilience, just as they did.
Lemons to Lemonade is more than just a camp; it’s a movement dedicated to providing grieving children with the resources, community, and support they need to thrive. Inspired by the memories of Sophia’s father, Jerry Donald, and Avery’s mother, Holly Lind, this project is just the beginning of their efforts to bring hope to grieving children everywhere—their way of turning life’s most difficult lemons into something truly sweet.
Lemons to Lemonade is dedicated to supporting children through their grief, one camp, one story, one friendship at a time. Join us in making a lasting impact. Through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, you can help turn lemons into lemonade for children facing loss. Every contribution builds a stronger, more compassionate community.
© Lemons To Lemonade All rights Reserved.
