A Community Responds To Love

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter stops by the lemonade stand to support these wonderful kids.

When 45 year old Julio Dumeng was diagnosed with undetected terminal stomach cancer and died suddenly, his nieces and nephews were determined to help in some way to raise money in order to help the family pay for funeral expenses and medical bills. They started a lemonade stand with the hopes of producing the needed funds, but it was slow going, until concerned Parma resident Cassie Busta happened to notice them. The situation changed rapidly after that - Cassie contacted local media, including the Parma Observer, and soon the ball was rolling. A television news story, Facebook postings, a Go Fund Me page account, word of mouth, and before you know it, many, many people were more than willing to pitch in, including Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter, who stopped by their lemonade stand on July 23. At last glance, the Go Fund Me drive had exceeded their goal, and included an anonymous $500 donation. Over $2,000 was raised at the lemonade stand itself. Our condolences go this family in their time of such a tragic loss, and this story is an uplifting message shining a light on some terrific kids and their tremendous love for their uncle, as well as caring people from all over who chose to help them. This is a great example of a way that social media can be a real blessing and serve to unite people for kind and compassionate purposes in addition to the way that we are accustomed to see it being used.