This summer will be one of the hottest on record—and brutal for NYC and NJ's 350,000+ homeless neighbors. But we can all do something to help.

LemonAID is about neighbors helping neighbors and providing life-saving relief during the most dangerous time of year for people on the streets.

Join the movement! Whether you give directly or host an in-person or virtual LemonAID stand, you are helping us collectively raise $100,000 to support our homeless neighbors and change lives.

Three Easy Steps to Start Your LemonAID Stand

Step One: Download Your Free Guide

Get everything you need to set up your in-person or virtual stand with our comprehensive toolkit including setup instructions, promotional materials, and pricing suggestions.

Step Two: Set Your Date and Location

Choose a high-traffic spot like your neighborhood, local park, or community event. Don't forget to check if you need any permits for your area. You can also choose a virtual stand.

Step Three: Share and Serve

Spread the word on social media, invite friends and family, then start serving up sweet relief for our homeless neighbors!

Heat-related ER visits increase 40-60% during heat waves

95,000+ people in NYC shelters nightly (33,000 children)

150,000 water bottles distributed annually to unsheltered individuals

Homeless individuals 150-200x more likely to die from heat

NYC pavement reaches 140-160°F during heat waves

Ready to make a difference?

Our free LemonAID Toolkit has everything you need to start your own fundraiser—setup guides, social media graphics, email templates, printable signs, and donation tracking sheets. We've done the heavy lifting, so you can focus on bringing your community together to help homeless neighbors survive this brutal summer heat. Download today and join hundreds of individuals, families, and organizations turning simple lemonade stands into life-changing support. When we all do a little, together we accomplish a lot.

Do you want to organize a LemonAID team at your organization to make a BIG impact? We are here to help! Complete our brief form to get access to our LemonAID stand toolkit. In addition, one of our team members will reach out to help answer any questions you have about how to mobilize a group experience. Registration takes 2 minutes, and we'll equip your organization with everything needed to host a successful LemonAID stand fundraiser. Let us help you transform your fundraising vision into reality!

Volunteer

We mobilize over 1,400 volunteers a year —  and whether it's your first time or your hundredth time, you have something unique to bring to the table. Volunteers transform lives, and in the process are transformed themselves. Our volunteers are beacons of hope and connection to hurting and isolated people.

FAQ

  • Every dollar you raise helps to support City Relief's mobile outreach programs. We bring food trucks, meals, essential supplies, and critical services directly to where people are living on the streets. Every $20 your lemonAID stand fundraises helps provides one person with refreshments, a meal, hygiene items, and connections to housing resources.

  • That's exactly why we created the toolkit! We provide step-by-step guides, ready-made social media posts, email templates, and all the materials you need. Whether you're 8 or 80, hosting 5 friends or 50 coworkers, we've made it simple. Plus, our team is available to support you throughout your campaign.

  • Absolutely! You can host a "virtual lemonade stand" by creating an online fundraising page and sharing it with your social networks. We provide digital graphics, email templates, and social media content to make virtual fundraising just as effective as a physical stand. Our toolkit has all the details whether you want to host or virtual or physical stand.

  • City Relief has been serving NYC for 35+ years with a 70% program ratio—meaning at least 70 cents of every dollar goes directly to helping people. You'll receive regular updates showing exactly how your funds are being used, and we can share stories of real people whose lives were changed through your support.

  • Every dollar counts! Even if you raise $10 instead of $100, that's still enough to provide lemonade and snacks for someone during our outreach. There's no minimum requirement or penalty for not hitting your target—we're grateful for any amount you raise. The goal is getting communities involved and helping however you can, not hitting specific numbers.