LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – “I was a daddy’s girl, and so it allowed me to give him what he needed.”
11-year-old Kaylee Hernandez had a dream to give her late father, Ricky, something he deserves. That something was a headstone his family couldn’t afford when he died nearly two years ago.
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Now, thanks to Lubbock’s generosity, she’s making that dream come true.
“The community really showed out and I really, truly appreciate the community,” Kaylee said.
Kaylee participated in Lemonade Day, Saturday, in front of Lash and Brow Studio. Even before arriving to start serving at 1 p.m., people were lining up to see her.
“I was like woah,” Kaylee said, “and then my mom just poured a glass of lemonade and then I was like here, hi.”
Kaylee says the lemonade stand was certainly a lot to manage and handle, but she met with a lot of great people along the way. From community members to school principals, KCBD’s very own Abner Euresti and even people that have special connections to Kaylee herself.
“One guy I had known and he was one of the first people out there,” Kaylee said. “He knew my dad, and some day’s I went to work with my dad and I knew him from his work. I was like hi and he was like hi.”
In total, Kaylee raised nearly $3,000, giving her enough money to purchase a headstone, Monday, at Resthaven Funeral Home. That specialized memorial is expected to arrive in six to nine weeks.
Kaylee says she’s truly grateful for everyone coming out to help her give her dad something he deserves and it shows the community was there for Ricky, something she’ll never forget the rest of her life.
“He’s seeing people showed up for him,” Kaylee said, “because I did it, but it was for him, so he’s seeing people who care for me and him. It was good.”
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