Coburn Place hosts annual Lemonade Stand fundraiser INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Coburn Place will host its annual lemonade stand fundraiser on Thursday. The event looks to empower children living at the apartments by providing them back-to-school supplies like new shoes. The Indianapolis nonprofi t provides rent-free housing for up to two years to domestic violence survivors and their families. The building near the Indiana State Fairgrounds has 35 apartment units for these families. Among the survivors living there, 70% have kids with them. Money raised looks to address a specific gap — back-to-school costs like new shoes, field trip fees and prom dresses that many families cannot afford. Vice President of Development Julie Henson says the fundraiser gives children a chance to define themselves. “Having a childhood is such an important development for the brain and for the heart and for healing,” Henson said. “A lot of that has to do with feeling like you are excited about going to school because you have the coolest new pair of shoes that you yourself picked out and that you have control over in your life.” The organization connects families to resources that help them recover emotionally and financially, while providing stable housing. Last year, Coburn Place served 176 children, ranging from newborns to 18-year-olds. According to Henson, children who were abused are more likely to be abused or abuse someone else later in life. “That experience of abuse, they have experienced something that could define their life forever,” Henson said. “This time here is all about interrupting that cycle of domestic violence,” Many of the children living at Coburn Place will be making and serving the lemonade at Thursday’s fundraiser. It runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at Coburn Place, 804 E. 38th St., Indianapolis. Organizers hope to raise $50,000 through donations for cups of lemonade. The group is also running a virtual fundraiser through July 30. Donations can be made by clicking here. ...read more read less