Lemonade Sale Helps Buy Items for Homeless

VILLAS – Gage Grossman may stand only 49 inches tall, but he’s not letting size get in the way of his dream to raise enough money to eradicate homelessness. The 9-year-old third grader recently raised $103 with his “Make Life Sweet Lemonade Aid for the Homeless” stand at a local yard sale. He hopes others his age will catch on to the idea.
“I sold 206 cups of lemonade,” Gage said. “And I donated all of the money to buy stuff that can help the homeless.”
Gage helped his mother at an April 18 event at St. Mary’s This and That Thrift Store in the Village Shoppes of Rio Grande, where food and supplies were distributed to some 50 homeless people and others in need, including children. “I helped serve food,” he said. “I really felt bad, especially when I saw the kids my age. I wanted to do more.”
His lemonade stand proceeds bought 24 combs, 20 takeout containers, 24 toothbrushes, 12 non-perishable meat products, 10 bars of soap, five sleeping bags, one pair of men’s sneakers and a bag of used clothing. He also purchased 50 bags of trail mix, 32 packs of tissues, 12 can openers, nine sticks of lip balm, seven packs of packaged meats and five book bags. The remaining $3 was donated to a local food pantry.
“We really needed more combs and personal hygiene products,” his mother noted. “We ran out of these items, so the things Gage bought will really help.”
The Grossmans’ interest in the homeless was piqued when the “Cape May County Herald” published a story about the late Timothy McCart, a homeless 55-year-old former construction worker who had been wheelchair-bound with a broken leg. He died in March after being hit crossing Route 47 in Rio Grande.
“When I read about Tim, I wanted to do more,” Tiffany said.
They spent about five hours packing and distributing supplies and food in April, and his mother said Gage was “touched by how little some people had. We gave out hot food and over 200 cold lunches. We even delivered some of the cold food to some of the motels nearby.
“We provided clothing, blankets and personal hygiene items, but there wasn’t enough stuff,” she said. “Gage wanted to do more, so he came up with the idea for the lemonade stand.”
Helping others is something the Grossman family does regularly, according to Tiffany. “We try to do as much as we can during the holiday time, and donate to a turkey drive at Thanksgiving. My teenage daughter helps by baking for many events, and my other son helps as well.
“We are trying to set up the lemonade stand at a local store, but so far, it’s been more difficult than we expected,” she noted.
It’s been difficult, Tiffany said, because the stores are requiring information for tax purposes. She is working with another local organization for sponsorship. “We are not giving up.”
“Imagine if we had a lemonade stand set up outside one of the grocery stores,” Gage noted. “We raised $103 at a yard sale; imagine what we could do at a store with a lot of people (passing by).
“Wouldn’t it be cool if there were more lemonade stands,” the youngster asked, “and we raised enough money that there were no more homeless people?”
“He is proof that one person can truly make another’s life a little bit sweeter,” said his mother. “I commend my son for his do-good attitude and striving to make his dreams come true.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.