Lemonade Stand Raised Money for LSU Veterinary School’s Oil Spill Recovery Efforts

Monica Lueders, class of 2012, introduces Jonathan Bush to Bamf, a barred owl, during his family’s visit to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Monica is a veterinary student and a wildlife and raptor co-chairl; she and other co-chairs provide care for the SVM’s education birds and give presentations about wildlife to civic and school groups.

On August 7, some children and their families got a special tour of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine as a thank you for some very special fundraising. Children in Louisiana and Alabama took it upon themselves to raise money to help wildlife affected by the Gulf oil spill.

Jonathan Bush, age 4, was very worried about the pelicans affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and decided to hold a Pelican Aid Lemonade Sale to raise money to help them. His lemonade sale held on Saturday, July 24, in Fortier Park in New Orleans raised $700 by selling lemonade and accepting donations. Thanks to media coverage in the New Orleans area, the family continued to receive donations, which they presented to the LSU SVM for its work with animals affected by the spill.

Meanwhile in Birmingham, Ala., Natalie, Kate, Evan and Hailey Van Beek and their friends, Ashlyn Schranz, and Goodwyn, Mary Michael and Wilson Rhodes held a two-day Free Lemonade, Face Painting, Cookies and Dog Biscuit Stand, during which they asked for donations to help the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s oil spill response efforts.

The Bush family and the children from Birmingham traveled to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine on Saturday, August 7, for a tour of the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and to present their donations to the LSU SVM.

According to Lori Bush, Jonathan’s mother, he was upset by the images of the oil spill and the animals harmed by it. At first, he wanted to sell his toys to raise money, but his mother plans to give the toys to his younger brother. She suggested that he sell lemonade. “After Jonathan decided to go ahead with the lemonade stand, I mentioned it to his teacher,” said Lori. “She said her brother works at the LSU Veterinary Hospital and that they had birds coming in. We got on-line and read about the work that LSU SVM was doing and knew it was the perfect place to send the money.”

“Jonathan loved his visit!” added Lori. “He keeps talking about Squirt, the tiny owl he was able to see. He also really got a kick out of seeing the baby birds. It was so cute to see how excited he was.”

On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico off of the Louisiana coast. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is assisting with the disaster response in two ways—providing medical care for animals directly affected by the oil spill along the Gulf coast and providing medical care for non-oiled injured animals brought to LSU by state and/or animal rescue groups. Since May 1, the LSU SVM’s Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana has provided care for 53 non-oiled birds, two oiled birds, and one oiled sea turtle.

“The WHL stands ready to care for all incapacitated animals not directly affected by the oil found in the area of the oil spill response,” said Dr. Javier Nevarez (LSU 2001), director of the LSU Wildlife Hospital. The number of injured wildlife not affected by the oil found in this area may increase as more responders begin to work in what normally would be a low population area. This will lead to the identification of sick and injured animals that otherwise may not have been observed by the general public. These animals may be affected by the inability to obtain food, natural injuries, boat injuries, or stress. The WHL cares for wildlife at no charge to individuals or agencies that present animals for veterinary care and relies on monetary gifts to cover all costs and subsequent rehabilitation.

Added Dr. Nevarez, “The donations from the lemonade fundraisers will allow the Wildlife Hospital to continue caring for injured wildlife in Louisiana. The funds will go directly to the feeding and veterinary care of the birds and will help increase their chances of survival.”

Please click here to make an online contribution. In the section labeled “Please select your gift designation(s),” select your beneficiary unit (“School of Veterinary Medicine”) and choose a fund (“Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana”). You may also mail your check or money order made payable to “LSU Foundation” (please put “SVM Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana” in the memo line) to LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Office of Institutional Advancement, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. For more information about giving to LSU SVM, please contact us at 225-578-9948.