By TAYLOR BROWN
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Two Fallowfield Township girls have found a new way to stay busy — and help others cool off — during the coronavirus pandemic.
Charlee Wagner and her long-time friend Ava Henderson, seventh graders in the Charleroi Area School District, decided to pass time and open a lemonade stand earlier this summer.
With help from their moms, Karen Wagner and Evonne Henderson, the self-proclaimed sisters turned themselves into entrepreneurs by selling fresh-brewed ice tea, lemonade and other candy and treats in front of their homes.
After a successful first day in business, they decided to keep the lemonade stand open.
But instead of treating themselves with their earnings, the girls chose to donate the proceeds from their work to a good cause.
After some thought and suggestions, Ava and Charlee decided to raise money for a project by the Charleroi Area School District Education Foundation’s newest project, Milo.
Milo, a 22-inch, wide-eyed, walking, talking doll-like robot, became an unofficial student in the classroom last year, where he spends time teaching his “friends” how to get along in the world and develop social skills.
Designed by RoboKind, a Texas-based robotics company, he is the newest teaching tool in technology used to help children with autism or other special education needs learn to express empathy, self motivation and navigate social situations.
The Charleroi Area School District Education Foundation found him so interesting they committed to cover the cost for three years, about $16,200, that the group would fund raise to make sure he has a permanent home as a Cougar.
So far, they have raised only $8,000 of that goal because of the pandemic forcing them to cancel two major fundraisers this year.
Ava and Charlee easily decided Milo was a worthwhile beneficiary.
So far, the girls have set up on three different days and have raised more than $500 for the project.
Karen Wagner said the community has been very supportive of the girls.
“Charlee and Ava were born on the same day, and our families are very close,” she said. “They have been best friends since the day they were born and they call themselves the “Twisted Twins,” so naturally that is what they decided to call their lemonade stand.”
She said the girls set up around 10 or 11 a.m. and despite the heat, it is hard to get them to come inside.
“Sometimes it’s almost dark and they don’t want to come in yet,” Wagner said. “They will wear their bathing suits under their clothes and take turns running to jump in the pool while the other handles the booth.”
They have received visits during “business hours” from friends, family, teachers and even local politicians.
State Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township, stopped in last week to grab a glass of lemonade.
“I want to thank these two young entrepreneurs for an outstanding mug of lemonade on a very hot day,” Cook said. “Even better than the excellent service, it was so great to see young people out there working hard, having fun and donating to a great cause.
“This is the America I know and love.”
Wagner said the girls upped their goal and now want to raise $1,000 toward the project.
Ava and Charlee will be set up starting at 10 a.m. Friday at 4 Evans Road (Bentleyville Road).
In addition to cold drinks, they will have a variety of snacks and cut-out robots available for sale.
Residents who make a donation or purchase a cut out can write their name on the robot, which the girls will later make into a collage to present to the school district with a donation check to the CASDEF.
“We are really proud of them,” Wagner said. “Our girls are third-generation family friends, but more like sisters. They love spending time together and they are having a lot of fun doing this. They really are great kids.”
Wagner said the girls plan to continue the effort each summer to benefit a different charity.
Ava is the daughter of Eric and Evonne Henderson and Charlee is the daughter of Karen and JR Wagner, all of Fallowfield Township.
Who is Milo?
Like his fellow classmates, he can walk, talk and even model human facial expressions — with the help of a few dozen motors — and never gets frustrated or tired. Through Milo and the thousands of verbal lessons he offers, students with autism can more easily learn how to tune into their own emotions, express empathy and deal with anger.
Milo speaks directly to the children, and while doing so symbols are displayed on his chest screen to help students better understand what he is saying.
During the lessons, Milo will ask students to watch video clips on a student tablet that show children displaying the skills or behaviors that Milo is teaching both correctly and incorrectly.
Students are then asked “yes” or “no” questions to determine if the children in the video are doing the behaviors right or wrong, among other exercises.