Kids and lemonade stands are as common to Texas summers as sizzling sidewalks, but one local stand available to quench residents’ thirst has an added ingredient.

Trey Peregoy is 11, and like many other successful entrepreneurs, he recognizes the benefit of offering a product that meets a need. And since summer had its sizzling launch on Saturday, there is no doubt that refreshing lemonade is a product that is already much in demand.

Thus, for the second year in a row, Trey is operating a lemonade stand, but he’s not content simply to offer a popular product at a fair price. Trey is giving customers more bang for every buck they spend

You see, one of Trey’s friends, Austin Pruett, also 11, has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, and he is on a waiting list for a transplant. Trey decided to use his lemonade stand to give Austin a helping hand.

Trey and volunteer helpers will sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup from noon to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday during summer break at McNair Elementary School, 1212 Hickory Creek Road. The stand was relocated to the school from Trey’s south Denton home because of high traffic volume in the first few weekends of operation.

Trey’s initial goal was to make $1,000 this summer to help his friend, but sales have been brisk, and Trey already has surpassed that mark. He is now shooting for $5,000 by the end of summer.

We hope he makes it, and based on his past successes, we believe he will.

Yes, we said “successes.” You see, this is not the first time that Trey has used a refreshing cup of lemonade to help a good cause. Last summer, his lemonade stand raised more than $250 to fund school supply purchases.

We’re confident that customers will continue to swing by Trey’s stand, and when they do, we think they’ll be encouraged by the example being set by this young man. And if they’re lucky, they may get to meet Austin, who has been helping out at the stand and making publicity signs.

Austin told our reporter that’s it’s nice knowing people are supporting him and his family.

Gee, folks, just when we start to think that this old world is becoming a less-charitable place, you go out and prove us wrong. Thanks to all who have helped the boys in their effort.

And we have a message for all of those who haven’t visited the stand — 100 degrees and climbing steadily. That’s the forecast.

What better way to fight the heat than downing a cup of lemonade? But we think you’ll agree that quenching your thirst is secondary here. Helping others is the real point, as a photo in Sunday’s edition showing the boys with a banner offering Lemon “Aide” plainly illustrates.

Thanks to you, Trey, for reminding us what’s really important. You are setting a great example for everyone.

Something tells us that we will continue to hear good things about this young man, and we’re sure the goals and successes of his fundraising efforts will continue to increase.