Save, Spend and Give

The temperature hovered near 50 early Friday morning, and just as the sun came up over the new Grommesh home in south Moorhead, two little boys led their mother to the spectator area. Max and John Rogers had been to the site twice this week with their dad and became charmed when they came back a third.

Each boy held in his hand a clear money bank with colored ends; Max’s was green with a label that said “Max give” and John’s was red with the words “John give” on it.

“You have three piggy banks, right boys?” said Carrie Rogers, the boys’ mom. They each have banks for spend, save and give. They came to the site to donate their “give” money to the Grommesh family.

Co-owner of Heritage Homes Daryl Braham came to the spectator area to accept the boys’ donation. In the process, Max was able to speak on a radio that made it into the ears of many on-site workers.

“What are you going to do with the money, Max?” Braham asked him.

“I’m gonna give the money to the Grommesh family,” Max’s little voice broadcast over the radio channel.

“Everyone’s cheering now!” Braham said. “Give me a high five!”

The boys twisted off the caps of their banks and showed Braham the cash and coins that they had collected.

Off the job site came Paul DiMeo from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

With the approach that he had all the time in the world, DiMeo deliberately shook each boy’s hand and said, “We’ve got something coming for you guys to make you look very professional.”

White hard hats that are typically used for volunteers on the job site appeared out of nowhere and a Sharpie floated over from someone in the crowd. DiMeo signed a hard hat for each boy with their names and a message: “Thank you so much,” along with his signature.

“You know what would be terrific?” DiMeo asked as he kneeled next to the boys and leaned in a little closer. “The family that will receive the Grommesh’s house has children and they could really use the start of a piggy bank. You want to do that?”

Nods came from the star struck little men wearing oversized hardhats. They agreed that they would like to help the currently unknown family with a new start to their life.

With another firm handshake for each, DiMeo thanked the boys once again and then disappeared back onto the job site to keep working.

“You know why Paulie came to see you?” Braham asked with a big smile. “Because they all heard you on the radio and he wanted to meet you.”

The boys emptied their money into a Ziplock bag, and put the caps back on their banks. They may never look at their color-coded banks the same way again.

Maybe they’ll keep them next to their new hard hats.