Every Little Bit Helps: 9-year-old Sells Lemonade to Raise Money for Detroit Parks

Aug 1, 2012

The city of Detroit has a deficit of more than $100 million, but 9-year-old Joshua Smith wants to do everything he can to help close that gap and improve the parks in his neighborhood. So, he’s set up a lemonade stand.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Smith knew the city was in trouble when the grass at a nearby park grew almost as tall as him. He then heard about the city’s financial crisis on the radio and decided to take action.

Lemonade Stand in Detroit

Photo: Jim Johnson

Smith plans to man his lemonade stand from 5 to 8 p.m. through this Friday, August 3, 2012. Though his exact location wasn’t disclosed, if you happen to drive by Smith’s lemonade stand, stop and show your support.

You can also donate money to the city of Detroit by visiting the city teller on the first floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Donated money goes to the general fund unless a department is specified. Smith has expressed that he wants the money he raises to go towards improvements to the parks in his community.

For the full Detroit Free Press article about this amazing boy, click here.

More articles like this one…

What’s New

ISS: Saving Self-Storage Integrity

ISS: Saving Self-Storage Integrity

U-Haul is solidifying customer trust in 2026 with a 1-Year Price Lock to provide tenants with cost certainty on their monthly storage rent. As the self-storage industry grapples with mounting legal challenges and growing scrutiny over its pricing practices, U-Haul CEO...

MSM: U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen Calls to End Deceptive Pricing Practices

MSM: U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen Calls to End Deceptive Pricing Practices

The U-Haul 1-Year Price Lock is disrupting the self-storage industry, drawing a clear distinction among the big operators and their strategies. Modern Storage Media interviewed U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen on the topic. From MSM … Joe Shoen is taking a stand. In our...

U-Haul Prepares 573 Meals at Andre House Dinner Service in Phoenix

U-Haul Prepares 573 Meals at Andre House Dinner Service in Phoenix

U-Haul® volunteers spent an evening supporting neighbors in need during an Andre House Dinner Service on Feb. 26 in Phoenix. A group of nine U-Haul Team Members gathered at Andre House to help prepare and serve a warm meal while assisting with dining room operations...

30 Days Free Storage Available to Kona Storm Victims across Hawaii

30 Days Free Storage Available to Kona Storm Victims across Hawaii

U-Haul Company of Hawaii is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container usage to residents impacted by last week’s Kona Storm and preparing for the next round of severe weather. Torrential rainfall and hurricane-force winds produced flooding, landslides...

Sandra Sanchez Named 2025 U-Haul Volunteer of the Year

Sandra Sanchez Named 2025 U-Haul Volunteer of the Year

U-Haul® is proud to recognize Sandra Sanchez, a premium processor with Oxford Life®, as its 2025 Volunteer of the Year. The honor acknowledges her dedication to community service and commitment to helping others through volunteer work during the past calendar year....

MSM: U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen Calls to End Deceptive Pricing Practices

U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage in Kankakee after Tornado Damage

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use at its Kankakee facility after a tornado that touched down Tuesday left a trail of damage across the city, which is located about 60 miles south of Chicago. A number of homes and businesses were...

U-Haul Resetting Storage Industry with 1-Year Price Lock

U-Haul Resetting Storage Industry with 1-Year Price Lock

U-Haul® announced today it is changing the self-storage industry with a 1-Year Price Lock Guarantee. The offer provides cost certainty to storage customers while Public Storage®, Extra Space Storage®, CubeSmart® and other national competitors advertise deceptive...