When it comes to helping others, Tommy Rhomberg knocks it out of the park.
This summer, disaster struck in the 12-year-old’s home state, devastating his community. But the way Tommy has stepped up in his neighbors’ time of need is giving them some much-needed hope.
In August, Iowa was hit by a derecho, a group of intense windstorms and thunderstorms that can be just as powerful and destructive as a hurricane.
Homes were destroyed and many special events were ruined, including Tommy’s friend’s birthday. To cheer him up, Tommy decided to craft the baseball enthusiast a homemade bat out of reclaimed wood from the storm, calling it “The Great Derecho.”
When others saw Tommy’s handiwork, requests for more bats came flooding in! That’s when Tommy realized he could use his talent for good, so he began making more. His plan was to sell the bats and use a portion of the proceeds to support relief efforts.
“I just wanted to make a nice gift for my friend. I didn’t know people would be so interested,” he wrote. “But since so many people in our area need help after the storm, let’s work together to make a difference for them.”
So far, Tommy has sold 113 bats. While he isn’t taking new orders at the moment, he’s made a huge impact. He has already donated $2,500 to the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation Disaster Relief Fund!
Read more about this heartwarming story here!
(Photo courtesy of the Great Derecho Facebook page)
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