BANGOR, Maine — Isaac Renshaw-Sirimoglu, 7, asked Santa Claus for a little brother for Christmas last year.
But the big, bearded man in red didn’t pony up, so Isaac took matters into his own hands.
With the help of his father, Halise Sirimoglu, Isaac built a lemonade stand, got a permit and set up shop in West Market Square in Bangor on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Isaac dubbed the creation the Italian Stallion Lemonade Stand after his favorite movie, “Rocky,” which he said he has seen four or five times. The “Rocky” theme song repeated in the background as Isaac poured out glass after glass of fresh lemonade throughout the day.
People lined up for a taste of Isaac’s $1 lemonade, each cup garnished with a fresh slice of lemon. Muffins also were for sale. All proceeds go toward the adoption fund for Isaac’s future little brother.
Isaac cringed when asked if he would settle for a sister.
Donations have poured in from area businesses, including Giacomo’s, Paddy Murphy’s, Nocturnem Draft Haus, Monahan Design, Metropolitan Soul, The Salvation Army and Winterport Boot, according to Isaac’s mother, Jodi Renshaw.
Isaac proudly displayed a $100 bill given to him by a man who also bought two glasses of lemonade. It’s the first $100 bill he has ever handled, he said.
Isaac’s father said he had helped his son mix at least 14 or 15 pitchers of lemonade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. while the lemonade stand was open.
The goal for the day was $1,500, the cost of an adoption application through the Good Samaritan Agency in Bangor, according to Renshaw. Sunday’s grand total came to $868, Renshaw said.
Even after paying for the application, Renshaw said she expects the rest of the adoption process will cost her family at least $10,000.
“It’s an extremely expensive venture” for a middle-class family, Renshaw said Sunday.
Renshaw and Sirimoglu, of Bangor, adopted Isaac when he was 14 months old and brought him to Maine from Haiti.
If everything goes according to plan, Isaac could have his new brother in a year or so, according to Renshaw.
Isaac thanked everyone who donated or came out on Sunday to enjoy a glass of lemonade in the rain.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the adoption fund may do so by sending donations to Isaac Renshaw-Sirimoglu, 1746 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 04401.
What an adorable story! I like how he cringed at the thought of sister haha!
Good luck to the family!
The little boy that gets adopted is going to be luck to have Isaac as a brother!!
Good luck young man. I’ll try to make it a point to stop by and buy some lemonade.
After all the bad we hear in the news, isn’t it awesome to hear a story like this? What a super boy. His new little brother will be so lucky to be so loved and wanted.
Leave your hate somewhere else and please do not start the “Adopt a kid in the USA” conversation. Until you have been there, done that, do not comment!!
Good story. Usually we only hear about these if the young person is summons for running an illegal lemonade stand.
In NYC he might get a ticket for selling a sugary drink and not charging tax
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Lepage probably has one of his tax goons on their way to see the kid as we speak.
Every kid that does not have a home needs adopting. i find this story very amazing, congrats to him and good luck with the sales
I think that Isaac, being from Haiti, has every reason to want a Haitian sibling to share his journey with.
True, i hope he raises enough to adopt a little brother
Fabulous story! <3 Good luck and great job!
Donation sent.
Stupid me just read the article again. Did not see that you could send a donation. Should i make the check out to him or the parents. Curious so i can send a donation
Hi dkenzie, either should work, but it might be safer to make the check itself out to one of the parents. They requested that the envelope me made out to Isaac, however.
Thank you Nick and thank you for doing this story. Made me feel a little better today. Will make check out to his dad and envelope to him. Great job reporting.
Best of Luck Isaac !! It seems sad to me that the City of Bangor actually made this child pay for a sellers permit. Seems like reconsideration should be that he is waived for this fee as a token of compassion and its donation to his cause.
His busniess is located on a prime spot, he should get a sellers permit. I think what this kid is doing is great, but we should not change the rules because of it.
What are you trolling? Re-read the article.
I would guess you are not an adult or your parents didn’t teach you the value of working for something and seeing it through.
Maybe you could move in with this family for awhile and the boy could teach you a thing or two.
This is great , good parenting, good kid. Keep us updated!
Sir, I hope that you never, ever, get yourself in a jam that requires someone there, who can help you, to consider their liability before their humanity to save your sorry butt ! You Sir are a prime example of why so many kid’s are so afraid to try anything for fear of getting in trouble. Issac is trying, in the face of possible failure, to do something that he feels is both right and needed. That is a rare example of just what principle’s this Country was founded on. Free to try, even to the point of failing, to make thing’s better is what the frequently cited American Dream is all about. You go Issac and don’t let nutcase’s like this stop you !
Isaac built a lemonade stand, got a permit
This weekend was sponsored by the state of Maine, It was lemonade stand weekend. It was set up to teach children how to do business hoping that some day own their own business. It was all over the state. They had to register with the state in order to do this.
City of Bangor should show compassion ??
Nice concept.
The city is already showing plenty.
Just look at all the junkies and wastrels the city supports.
BDN, Why do you only tell half the story on so many of the storys you print? You missed the fact that it’s National Lemonade Stand Dayz, June 3 to June 17, 2012 and that there were 16 other Lemondade Stands in the Bangor Brewer area that you failed to mention.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=203990017067594413365.0004bc2b9e4432ae03ee3
Maybe the reporter came down through town and saw him selling and had a permit and asked him what he was doing, you ever though of that. Yes there were several stands around and will continue to be until 17th from what i hear. Maybe they will report on another one.
Best of luck to an enterprising young man. Good to see that the Occupiers didn’t picket him for being a successful businessman, and the state didn’t rush in to shut him down.
Get a life.
Red lemonade?! Now I’ve seen everything!
It was raspberry-flavored lemonade … and it was very good.
mind = blown
It’s sad when nowadays children need permits to sell lemonade.
Many blessings to Isaac and his family!
When John was Governor he wanted to shut down these stands because they weren’t collecting sales tax. The permit is a little weird. Did the city health inspector have to approve these stands also?
Everything has to be regulated and approved today.
When I was 10 I was mowing lawns for a few bucks, I’m sure that is not allowed anymore.
That is just wonderful! Good for him!
Good luck Isaac. Hope you enjoy that little brother you arbbe working so hard to get. He will be one lucky boy.
What a wonderful story. Put a smile on my face this morning while reading the hubby’s paper version of BDN over coffee.
That is wonderful! I hope he gets the money needed for the entire adoption process. Adopting a child shouldn’t cost anything given the dire poverty of that region. If you adopt a baby from Haiti, you are rescuing them (usually) from severe poverty.
Some of these comments put a huge smile on my face. Others, not so much. To the ones that made me smile, Thank You!
This is a truly awesome young man with a “Can Do” spirit. Keep up the good work, Isaac!
The little boy is absolutely adorable and his ambition is awesome! He’s going to lead a very successful life if he put this kind of effort in all his endeavors.
I wish adoption, both international and domestic, wasn’t so expensive. Perhaps more children could get happy homes and get out of the foster care limbo.