An energetic and enthusiastic storyteller with a servant’s heart is a good way to describe our latest Unsung Hero, Hayden Gehrtz. Hayden is a little younger than our typical Unsung Hero as she’s only 10 years old, but her drive to help others is remarkable.
It all started three years ago when her little brother was born and had to spend time in the NICU in Grand Forks during the pandemic. Tucker, now an energetic 3-year-old, spent 12 days building up his strength after birth. During this time, the family received great care from amazing people at Altru.
This wasn’t the first time Hayden had a brother in the NICU, as her younger brother Liam also spent some time there after his birth a few years earlier. One thing Hayden noticed about life in the NICU is that it’s very monotone when it comes to clothing and blankets. She began questioning why the babies didn’t get a little more variety. After her mom explained that they don’t usually get those outfits until they go home, Hayden’s creative spirit kicked in, and she came up with the idea to have a lemonade stand to raise money for the NICU unit in Grand Forks! “I told my mom that I want to help all the babies in the NICU so I’m going to have a lemonade stand to raise money.” And the next day, her idea came to life. Her first stand, which raised an incredible $600, included just lemonade.
Every year Hayden has made improvements. She now offers fruit punch along with her lemonade, and added a few different types of cookies for purchase, too. “I’ve made monster, chocolate chip, and oat cookies,” said Hayden. Her mom helps her get the word out on Facebook and she also relies on word-of-mouth from her family and friends. Some of her most generous customers include local community heroes, like the police and fire departments and the ambulance staff, and the Lunacy and Fire & Iron Motorcycle groups. “They give great tips!” she says with a smile. As word has traveled about Hayden’s Lemonade Stand, other families who’ve experienced life in the NICU have stopped by to purchase lemonade as well. “It’s fun to visit with other families that were in the NICU just like we were.”
Hayden’s Lemonade Stand is now in its 3rd year of operation, and in that time, it has raised over $1,000 to help families in the same situation their family was in just a few years ago. Each year, Hayden takes the money she raises and heads to the store to purchase items which include onesies, socks, burp cloths, and more. “It’s so fun to go to the store and pick out the items. I take my time looking at everything and then pick what I like the best for the boys and the girls,” said Hayden. Her favorite part is delivering the clothes to the hospital. “I like to see the smiles on everyone’s faces when they see all of the items that I purchased!”
As you would probably guess, Hayden is an active youngster. She’s a member of the Crafty Kids 4-H Club, with community service projects and archery being top highlights. She also plays basketball and is probably the number one fan of the Lake Region Royals women’s basketball team! She enjoys dancing with Just for Kix, and has a deep love for animals, with a dream of being a veterinarian someday. She enjoys spending time at her grandparent’s farm caring for chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep, cats, dogs and a horse. In the summer months, she enjoys tubing on the lake and camping with her family and friends.
Thank you, Hayden, for being a great example to others! Keep up the good work.
Hayden’s parents are Shelby Ness, Bookstore Manager at Lake Region State College, and Clayton Gehrtz, a Service Technician at Lake Chevrolet GMC. Hayden has 3 brothers: Owen, Liam, and Tucker.
