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Four years ago, a 9-year-old Stella Prince woke up and decided she wanted to start a lemonade stand. Thanks to that decision and support from the community, the North Myrtle Beach Humane Society is thousands of dollars richer.

Stella, now 13 and hosting the lemonade stand for the fourth year, said she chose to donate the stand鈥檚 proceeds to the Humane Society because she loves animals and wanted to find a way to help them despite not being able to adopt.

鈥淚 wanted to make another way to support them and provide for them. And every dollar counts,鈥� Stella said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for every person that came by today and that donated.鈥�

Each year, Stella sets up her lemonade stand the day before Fourth of July in the yard of her Duffy Street house in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach. You can鈥檛 miss it. Stella鈥檚 friends make sure of it, wearing matching yellow shirts, holding signs and yelling 鈥渓emonade! popsicles!鈥� as neighbors drive by.

The community support has grown over the years. In year one, Stella raised $100, then $500, then $1,600. This year, her goal was to double that. And business was booming with expanded offerings. This year, candy was added to the lineup, and customers took advantage, scooping up Starburst, Skittles and the like to go with their drink.

But for some, it didn鈥檛 matter what Stella was selling. They were just there to support a neighborhood kid giving back to the community.

Clay Nichols pulled onto the sidewalk in his work truck and yelled 鈥渨hat are you kids doing?鈥� before handing Stella a $50. He didn鈥檛 want any lemonade in return.

鈥淭hese girls, I know them and they鈥檙e sweet and this is a good cause. I鈥檓 here to support them,鈥� Nichols said. 鈥淸Stella] is a great girl and it鈥檚 for a great cause. All these girls are wonderful. I鈥檝e known them all pretty much their entire lives.鈥�

Kids also unsurprisingly stopped by.

Jayce Willard, 13, got a pink lemonade.

鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 good,鈥� he said.

Bennett Nichols, also 13, said, 鈥淚 know them, and I wanted some lemonade.鈥�

The lemonade stand raised $3,010 this year, said Jennifer Prince, Stella鈥檚 mother.

鈥淪tella鈥檚 support means the world to us,鈥� said North Myrtle Beach Humane Society Marketing Manager Meaghan Pitman. 鈥淭o see someone so young not only recognize the importance of helping animals, but take action year after year, is incredibly inspiring. Her dedication reminds us that compassion knows no age, and her lemonade stand has become a symbol of the kind of community spirit that makes our lifesaving work possible. We are beyond grateful for Stella and the difference she continues to make.鈥�

Jennifer said Stella is 鈥渁 little businesswoman.鈥� But she鈥檚 not in it for the money.

鈥淣ot Stella. It鈥檚 all going to the Humane Society,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he has a really big heart. She鈥檚 a sweet child.鈥�