Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – An Arkansas State University student is helping those who have faced barriers to participating in the workforce in a unique way.

When the “Sipping With a Purpose” lemonade stand opened for its inaugural run in May, the crew was met with an incredible sight: A massive crowd of thirsty customers ready to show their support.

“We had a huge line of customers,” recalled Noah Pollins-Paredes, a crew member who handled lids, straws, and customer appreciation. “There were so many people outside, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness!’ We had so many customers, and we just all started diving in.”

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That rush of business is exactly what The Learning Center of NEA (TLC) hopes to replicate at two events in Jonesboro this month.

“Sipping With a Purpose” is more than just a place to grab a cold, $3 drink. Shelby Russell, a third-year occupational therapy student, helped develop the business as part of her capstone project. She said it is designed to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.

Smiling man in a green shirt and apron stands behind a table with a yellow pitcher and stacked cups outdoors.
Noah Pollins-Paredes
Person wearing a green apron with a lemon graphic and the text 'SPRING with a PURPOSE' over a red shirt.
Uniform
Two men in a kitchen wearing green aprons; one in a gray shirt with blue gloves, the other in a black sleeveless shirt, both smiling at the camera.
Preparation team: lemon squeezers
L to R: Corey Vinson and Jordan Cooksey
Two smiling women wearing green shirts and dark aprons at a booth, name tags read Hannah and another person, logo 'Sipping with a Purpose' on apron.
Hannah Gallion
Healthcare worker in teal scrubs at a kitchen counter, measuring or pouring liquid, with another person in the background.
Preparation team: lemon squeezer Eryn Smith
Noelle in a green shirt and dark apron with a 'Sipping with a Purpose' logo, standing outdoors and smiling.
Noelle Young
Poster reading 'Sipping with a Purpose' with a lemonade pitcher illustration and a green checkered border framing the sign
Mission Statement
Smiling woman in a green shirt and dark apron with a name tag reading 'Haylee', sunglasses on her head, outdoors near a light wall.
Haylee Clark
Two people in green aprons stand in a kitchen with a large pitcher of lemonade between them, both smiling.
Preparation team: lemonade mixers
L to R: Elizabeth Adams and Hana Al-Maskary
Back view of a person wearing a purple shirt and blue glasses, brushing or adjusting hair near a door with prep instruction posters.
Heather Reese reading the preparation steps before entering the kitchen.
Plastic cup with ice and a lid, resting on a checkered outdoor table; handwritten message on the cup reads 'have a good day.'
One of the notes written on cups by the workers.
Two men in a kitchen wash lemons at a double sink; one smiles at the camera while the other holds a lemon and looks on.
Preparation team: lemon washers
L to R: William Rawls and Brian Huffman
Three people stand in front of a white shuttle bus, with a TLC sign on the door and a clipboard held by the person on the right; trees are in the background.
Shopping Crew
L to R: Rebecca Smith, Cynthia Smith, and Maria Stringer
Three volunteers in green shirts and aprons pose at a lemonade stand, with a large jar of lemonade on the table and name tags visible (Noah, Hannah, Heather).
Selling Crew
L to R: Noah Pollins-Paredes, Hannah Gallion and Heather Reese
Two smiling people wearing green aprons pose for a selfie outdoors, with one person wearing glasses and bangs.
Selfie at the selling event
L to R: Hannah Gallion and Shelby Russell
Yellow watering can holding white folded napkins in a lemon-patterned tray, on a green-and-white checkered tablecloth, with clear plastic cups nearby and blurred people in the background.
Stack of yellow lemon-slice coasters on a green-and-white checkered tablecloth, with a blurred photo frame in the background.
Person wearing blue gloves and a dark green apron slices a lemon with a knife at a kitchen prep station.

She explained that running the stand from start to finish, the crew gains vital job training and real-world work skills to help them overcome common barriers to future employment.

Running a successful business takes a highly coordinated effort. “Sipping With a Purpose” relies on a dedicated team of over 20 participants, split into four distinct crews: shopping, preparation, selling, and cleanup. Each step of the process is designed to mimic a real-world job environment, giving the crew hands-on experience in every aspect of the operation.

The work begins long before the first cup is poured. For the first event, Russell said the shopping crew took a trip to Sam’s Club armed with lists featuring pictures of what they needed to buy. The team navigated the aisles, got seven three-pound bags of lemons, and handled scanning the membership card and paying for the items.

Back at TLC, the preparation crew took over. A major focus of the program is mastering workplace hygiene, ensuring that everyone entering the kitchen washes their hands, wears gloves, sports a hairnet, and dons an apron.

“I feel like that’s where I’ve seen the most growth,” Russell said. “Even after the first week going in there, I walked them through all those different steps, but now as soon as they get heading towards the kitchen, they’re doing all those things on their own.”

Jordan Cooksey, a member of the prep crew, said he knows exactly what it takes to get the kitchen ready for a busy shift.

“I had to put the apron on, then I had to wash my hands with soap and water,” Cooksey said.

Once prepped, Cooksey and his team tackled the hardest part of the job. After the lemons were washed and dried, a team of four squeezed lemons continuously for two hours to ensure the mixing crew had plenty of juice to create fresh, homemade lemonade.

The team’s execution in the kitchen was flawless. However, Russell jokingly said there was one exception.

“The only person who made a mistake in the kitchen the entire day was me,” Russell said. “I think I spilled like two cups of lemon juice all over the place. They handled their roles perfectly.”

After the homemade lemonade is mixed, the selling crew takes over to serve customers. Noelle Young, who served as the cashier during the first event, said that preparing for the rush meant practicing real-world math.

“If they gave me a twenty, I give them three fives and two ones, so we practiced a lot on money exchange, counting change,” Young explained, adding the best part of the job was seeing the results of that hard work by raising the money.

While the group initially set a goal of selling 50 cups for their first stand, they surpassed expectations, selling 81 cups and raising $255 for their activity fund.

Russell noted that interacting with the public has been a massive confidence builder for the team. She recalled one seller who was initially nervous about what to say to customers, but after taking a few orders, her confidence soared.

Pollins, who handles the lids and straws, said he also takes pride in his customer service skills, making sure to tell every patron, “Thank you for supporting TLC,” and trying to put a smile on everyone’s face.

The community is invited to come out and experience this team’s excellent customer service firsthand. The “Sipping With a Purpose” crew will be setting up shop at the following locations:

  • Thursday, June 11: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Adult Center at 3801 Aggie Road.
  • Thursday, June 18: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the TLC Fox Meadow location at 2808 Fox Meadow Lane.

The homemade lemonade is $3 per drink, and all proceeds go toward the participants’ activity fund.

Ultimately, the goal is for the community to do more than just buy a cold drink—it is about fostering genuine connection.

“Not only are we making an inclusive environment for these employees to come and work, but it’s an inclusive environment for the community to come in and interact with the population as well,” Russell said.

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