Little girl makes big donation

A hardworking little girl made a big impact at the Burton Memorial Library last week.

Seven-year-old Kassie Askew donated $925 to the library for new books after working several weeks at a lemonade stand. Her motivation was simple enough.

“I like to read,” Kassie told the Enterprise, “and I wanted them to buy some more books.”
Askew’s mother said Kassie originally planned to have a lemonade stand just for herself but then decided to help the library out.

“Her goal was $700,” Amanda Askew said, “but it went way over that.”

Kassie, who visits the library more than once a week, said her parents were support of her idea. Her dad, Dale Askew, helped her build the lemonade stand, which she set up in front of the family business – Saye’s Tack Store – next door to the library.

She also said her mom helped her bake brownies.

“I sold lemonade, limeade, and brownies,” Kassie said of her stand, which was open for two hours a day Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in June and part of July.

Amanda said Kassie used her own money to buy the ingredients for products and said that Dale encouraged their daughter to work to earn her own money. She did have to have help in the kitchen this year, but Amanda thinks that may change next summer.

“Hopefully next year she will be able to hold the bowl herself and reach the oven,” she said.

The library staff was impressed by Kassie’s devotion and willingness to help, and the Friends of the Library made Kassie an honorary member following her donation last Thursday.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Librarian Jerri Ann Shields said. “She is such a sweet girl, so intelligent and such a worker!”

Clarendon Mayor Sandy Skelton gave Kassie a double high five after the membership was bestowed on her and said, “Thank you, Kassie, on behalf of the city council, for all your hard work for the library.”