Utah boy’s spirit of giving lives on after his death

Utah boy’s spirit of giving lives on after his death

(Courtesy of Dulce Hollenbach)


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DRAPER — When 8-year-old Tomas was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, he wasn’t concerned about himself. Instead, he dedicated his time to thinking of ways to serve children who had less than him.

He died just after his 10th birthday in 2011, but the lemonade stand fundraiser he started to benefit Operation Christmas Child continues to bring smiles to kids around the world. OCC is a project that sends shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items to children in need.

“He wanted a lemonade stand to raise money for Operation Christmas Child so more kids would know about Jesus,” said his mother Dulce Hollenbach. “He was the kind of kid who was really curious about those things. He wanted to be a preacher.”

Tomas organized a stand in front of his house with lemonade, Kool-Aid, cookies and a little box for donations. His enthusiasm for OCC was easily apparent — he asked for people to assemble boxes or make donations in lieu of birthday presents, and he got his school involved as well.

“In the beginning, Tomas was the one that involved us,” Hollenbach said. “We really were not aware that little by little we were getting more and more involved.”

Tomas meeting Franklin Graham, who is the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, the organization that runs Operation Christmas Child. The photo was taken in 2010. (Photo: Courtesy of Dulce Hollenbach)
Tomas meeting Franklin Graham, who is the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, the organization that runs Operation Christmas Child. The photo was taken in 2010. (Photo: Courtesy of Dulce Hollenbach)

She said after Tomas died, she and her husband didn’t know how to go on without the lemonade stands and OCC. They approached their church, Calvary Chapel, with the idea of continuing the lemonade stands. Nine families responded the first year, then it doubled the second year and during its third year in 2014, 30 families in Utah held a lemonade stand in Tomas’ name for OCC.

“We are growing and we feel super excited,” Hollenbach said. “We honestly never thought that it would grow that much, but we still wanted to do it because one thing (Tomas) told us, actually, is that it doesn’t matter if it is one or if it is two, it is worth it.”

The money raised by the lemonade stands is used to pay for the OCC boxes and supplies. Every year the family celebrates Tomas’ birthday on Oct. 7 by inviting everyone to the cemetery, where they assemble boxes together.

Another way they prepare the boxes is by working with the charter school Tomas attended, Channing Hall in Draper. Parents and children bring in donations and boxes to fill as a school, and money from the lemonade stands is used to help cover the $7 shipping fee.

Hollenbach suggested parents take the time to get involved with their children’s desires.


One thing (Tomas) told us, actually, is that it doesn't matter if it is one or if it is two, it is worth it.

–Dulce Hollenbach


“I’m assuming like me, there are many moms or dads who hear their kids and because we’re busy — we’re entertained with other things coming towards us — we don’t pay attention to those important things. We don’t take the time to (focus on) our kids and their dreams,” she said. “It took for me a diagnosis to help me understand. Now after that, I noticed I wanted to do everything with him and my other two children.”

She enjoys hearing stories about how the lemonade stands have provided the opportunity for families to serve together and interact with the communities around them, which is what Tomas wanted — to touch the lives of others.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Tomas’ lemonade stand event or make an OCC box in Tomas’ memory can contact the Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake at 801-264-9999.

Additional information about OCC boxes, which is organized by Samaritan's Purse, can be found online. The national collection week is Nov. 17-24.

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