THIRD GRADER Calum “Cal” Henderson has a bad case of puppy love, but for a good reason. Only 8 years old, the Robert E. Lee student has made it his mission to raise funds for the Tullahoma Animal Shelter.
“It all started when I picked Cal up from school one day,” his grandmother, Susan Eckles, said. “Cal wanted to know what a lemonade stand was, so I explained. He became excited and said he wanted to make his own lemonade stand.”
They made one that very day.
“People can be guilty of coming up with a great plan, then put off starting it,” Eckles said. “Other things grab their attention, and they forget. The best time to do anything, in my opinion, is now.”
It was a sunny day, a perfect opportunity to offer travelers a cold drink and a tasty treat, so the two worked as a team and baked three dozen chocolate chip cookies to pair with their ice-cold homemade lemonade. They grabbed a fold-up card table, made signs, and set up for business in the perfect location.
“We wanted a busy intersection where lots of automobiles pass by,” she said. “We chose the entrance to Tara Estates because it allows customers to pull in, make a purchase, and then exit without holding up traffic. We were like a drive-thru lemonade stand.”
The lemonade stand was so successful that they made it an annual event. In the first year, they made almost $100. The following year, the stand more than doubled its profit, and in 2025, the stand raised more than $550. They have no plans to stop now.
Though the project started with just Cal and his grandmother, the following year, Cal’s cousin, Ivanka, a kindergartner from New Jersey, joined the effort along with her grandmother. When the third year rolled around, news of Cal’s endeavor had spread, and his friends and classmates also wanted to be a part of it. By then, Cal was getting used to being a young entrepreneur.
“Once we got started, I turned everything over to him,” Eckles said. “It was his idea and his lemonade stand. Before long, he was greeting customers with a smile and asking them if they would like a cold drink. The experience helped him learn how to be social and how to overcome shyness.”
Before Cal sold his first cup of lemonade, there was a stipulation he agreed to follow. All money earned was to be given to a local charity. Cal was free to choose which one. Being an animal lover and having a dog in the family made it easy for Cal to pick the Tullahoma Animal Shelter.
“My dog’s name is Merlin. He’s fluffy and black,” Cal said. We don’t know yet what kind of dog he is, but he is playful, and I like doing stuff with him.”
One day, Cal and his mother were talking, and he learned that not all animals were as fortunate as Merlin. Animals without a home were taken to a shelter, and coming up with enough money to buy food for them wasn’t easy.
“I wanted them to survive,” Cal said. With hopes of helping the animals live long, happy lives with families of their own, the young businessman gathered the funds from each lemonade sale and took them directly to U.S. Bank. The employees cut cashier’s checks for him to present to the organization. These donations have helped provide food, health care, toys, and treats for the many animals in need.
The lemonade stand tradition has become a treasured memory-making opportunity in Cal’s family, especially for Cal’s grandmother. She was there to witness the transformation in Cal and watched him experience “the thrill of giving.”
According to Eckles, Cal has always been a kind, hardworking child who loves his family. He enjoys spending quality time with his parents, Shawn and Gail Henderson, his grandfather, George, and, of course, his grandmother.
He also takes piano lessons. His father plays guitar, and sometimes the two practice together. Cal’s older brother, Cade, 22, is also a musician and played in the high school band.
Like Cal, Cade has a heart for animals and works at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Tullahoma. It’s not uncommon for Cal and his grandmother to whip up a batch of cookies to take to the clinic for Cade to share with his co-workers.
Plans are underway for the 2026 summer lemonade stand extravaganza.
“Next year, we will have cookies, lemonade, bottled water, and lollipops like this year,” he said, “but we may set up another tent so the customers can sit down and talk to each other. Who knows? We may even add breadsticks!”
According to Eckles, every event has turned into a party where friends and strangers come together to have fun.
