And soon after that, fourth-grader Brennan Bailey’s mind turned to wondering how he could help the children of two of the victims - Lois Oglesby and Monica Brickhouse - whose children are his classmates at the Rivers Edge Montessori School.
“Unfortunately I had to explain to my son what happened just four blocks away in the Oregon District from our house,” said the South Park neighborhood mother.
“Dealing with that kind of heart break. He said ‘Mom can we do something? Can we do a lemonade stand?’ and I said sure why not?”
On Saturday, the boy and his mother, with help of friends and neighbors, set up a lemonade stand with signs commemorating those who died and explaining to customers how the money from sales would go to the two victims’ families.
Operating out of gazebo near Wayne Avenue, the stand got busy quick in Saturday’s afternoon heat.
Joining among the many customers was neighbor E.J. Waltemire.
“This week has been hard for Dayton and I wanted to come out and support Brennan and his friends,” said Waltemire. “It’s great to see the youth getting involved and making a positive impact.”
Bailey said the turnout, including donations at her husband’s work, have been overwhelming.
“It kind of exploded from there with just great from the community pouring out love and supporting them,” she said.
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