Hearthstone Family Rallies Neighborhood to Help Hill Country Flood Victims with Heartfelt Lemonade Stand Fundraiser
When Mary Ellen Culver and her two children set out to check off a simple item on their summer bucket list—a neighborhood lemonade stand—they never imagined their efforts would end up making a real difference for families reeling from one of the most devastating floods in Texas history.
But after watching news unfold of the catastrophic Hill Country flooding over the July 4th weekend—where a record-breaking 20 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours and the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes—the Hearthstone family knew they couldn’t just stand by.
“We had a lemonade stand planned for the summer as it was one of the items on my kids’ summer bucket list,” said Culver, a third-grade teacher in CFISD. “We had it scheduled and planned for July 7th. Once we saw what happened in Kerr County with the floods, we knew immediately that we wanted to do it to help raise funds.”
The disaster, intensified by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, left at least 120 people dead statewide and more than 160 still missing. Kerr County was among the hardest hit. Particularly heartbreaking was the loss of life at Camp Mystic in Hunt, where 27 campers and counselors were confirmed dead and others remain unaccounted for.
Hunt, Texas, holds a special place in the Culver family’s heart. “Hunt, Texas is important to our family as we have gone every summer for the past 30 years,” she shared. “For my family, the donations are a chance to help a community that is near and dear to our hearts.”
The Culver Family, Hearthstone residents for a decade who recently held a lemonade stand Determined to make their lemonade stand count, the Culvers joined forces with close friends and fellow Hearthstone residents, the Mendoza family, who live on a highly visible corner in the neighborhood, at Huffmeister and Sandalfoot. The stand, manned by four children ranging from age 3 to 8, offered homemade lemonade, cookies, chips, and even handcrafted children’s jewelry like seashell necklaces and beaded bracelets. With colorful signs and enthusiastic waves to passing cars, the young team quickly caught the attention—and hearts—of neighbors.
To spread the word, the families turned to Facebook, Instagram, the Hearthstone Moms Co-Op, and old-fashioned word-of-mouth via text. What followed stunned everyone.
“This was our first time organizing a community fundraiser and we would never had imagined raising the amount that we did,” Culver said. “We were hoping for maybe $100—not almost $2,000.”
In just two and a half hours, the stand raised nearly $2,000, with many neighbors giving large donations without taking anything in return.
“What overwhelmed me the most was the large donations that people just dropped off—$20, $50, $100,” Culver recalled. “When our kids said, ‘what would you like?’ Most people’s responses were, ‘I do not want anything however, we want to donate to your cause.’”
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They directed all proceeds to the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, where a family member volunteers and which is actively supporting recovery efforts on the ground in Kerr County. The organization empowers local churches in over 40 countries to deliver disaster relief and sustainable community development through practical acts of compassion and faith.
The stand also became a powerful teaching moment for the Culver children—8-year-old Violet and 5-year-old Duncan—who helped count the donations and reflect on their impact. “When we sat down to count the money, my children and I said, ‘we have never counted this much cash before!’ I had to count it multiple times as I was afraid I overcounted!”
The fundraiser coincided with Mary Ellen’s grandfather’s 95th birthday, adding a deeply personal dimension to the day. “July 7th, 2025 was my grandfather’s 95th Birthday and we did this for him!”
Beyond the dollars raised, the effort sparked something deeper in the family and those who joined them: a renewed connection to their neighborhood and a lasting sense of purpose.
“We do not know many of our Hearthstone neighbors and were excited to meet so many of them,” Culver said. “Having our kids help out with fundraising is an invaluable life lesson of selflessness and humanitarianism. I hope they look back on this day and are proud of themselves.”
Hearthstone kids Violet, Duncan, and friends proudly host their neighborhood lemonade and jewelry stand on July 7, The Culvers—residents of Hearthstone for a decade—say this is just the beginning of their community involvement. “The Lemonade Stand is one we will never forget and we are definitely going to be looking for more ways to help out the community!”
As Kerr County begins the long road to recovery, it’s clear that even a simple neighborhood lemonade stand—fueled by compassion, kids, and community—can make a meaningful difference.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more heartwarming stories of kindness, resilience, and community spirit right here in Hearthstone.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
