Piper’s pumpkin stand: Generosity by the gourd

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — You can tell Halloween isn’t far away with all the pumpkins turning up at homes across KELOLAND.

A six-year-old Sioux Falls girl has opened up her own pumpkin stand.

But instead of pocketing all the profits, she’s donating most of the sales to help others.

Steinberg’s Furniture owners retiring after 20 years

Few customers can resist the sales pitch from this earnest little entrepreneur.

“My name is Piper Gross. I’m in first grade and I’m raising money for my school,” Piper said.

Piper’s Pumpkin Stand is selling produce plucked from her grandparents’ pumpkin patch in Olivet.

“It looks like a squash, and a gourd, and a pumpkin,” Piper said.

Some of Piper’s younger clients are stumped by her inventory.

“It’s a pickle! A pickle! A pickle!”

Little brother Owen helps out at the pumpkin stand. But he’s more interested in the free treats.

“Hide the suckers from him,” Piper said.

Sales have been strong, with dollar donations of varying amounts.

“Sometimes it’s eight, sometimes it’s seven, sometimes it’s six, sometimes it’s four, sometimes it’s three, sometimes it’s one,” Piper said.

Piper attends Sonia Sotomayor Elementary and has earmarked some of those donations to help a classmate who’s battling cancer.

“He’s in a wheelchair and he’s too sick to walk,” Piper said.

Other donations collected at the pumpkin stand will help her classmates in the school lunchroom.

“I’m going to give the money to the kids that can’t pay lunches,” Piper said.

This kind of generosity is just part of Piper’s nature.

“Piper is a spunky first-grader. She has a huge heart of gold and she’s always thinking of others. When anything comes up, Piper wants to help other people,” Piper’s mom Mallory Gross said.

A bountiful Halloween harvest of compassion, courtesy of Piper’s Pumpkin Stand.

Piper has also donated some pumpkins to her classmates.

Her stand is located at 719 East Inverness Drive and will be open Saturday, starting at noon.