VERGENNES — Over the past two summers, 8-year-old Vergennes resident Hunter Warner has made about $200 mowing lawns, shoveling snow and doing other yardwork for his neighbors, plus taking care of a to-do list for his parents, Stacey and George Leggett.

Hunter, who will enter second grade at Vergennes Union Elementary School this fall, has spent all those earnings at Olsen’s Ice Cream on Main Street, next to the Champlain Farms convenience store, which his mom helps manage.

But he’s not splurging on Rocky Road or Caramel Swirl for himself.

In the summer of 2023 Hunter bought about two dozen $4 gift certificates and gave them to the officers at the Vermont State Police’s New Haven barracks and the Vergennes Police Department.

Then on Saturday, July 20, Hunter and his parents arrived at the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad’s Panton Road headquarters and handed over another roughly two dozen $4 Olsen’s gift certificates.

“He does earn the money himself,” Stacey Leggett said. “Everything he earns goes toward the gift certificates.”

DURING HIS VISIT on July 20 to donate two-dozen ice cream gift certificates to Vergennes Area Rescue Squad members, 8-year-old Hunter Warner checks the heartbeat of squad member Rick Loyer.
Photo courtesy of Holly Weber

Hunter was too shy to answer most questions posed by a reporter, at least on one recent morning. But it’s important to know,  his parents said, that he looks up to one of his city neighbors, a VSP officer, and one of his first projects was to help that officer mend a fence.

And Hunter had a ready response when asked what he wanted to be when he grows up: “Police officer. Police officers are my favorite.”

Hunter also gained a measure of fame in the summer of 2023, when two TV stations noticed a VSP Facebook page post about his generosity and then filmed pieces on him.

Stacey Leggett said Hunter told one of the TV stations he wanted to be a police officer “because they catch bad men” and he wanted to work with his VSP neighbor.

Certainly, if Hunter’s reception at VARS is any indication, those who serve our communities appreciate Hunter’s kindness. EMTs gave Hunter a short trip in the ambulance; let him use its the light bar, radio and siren; permitted him both ride on and operate a stretcher; and allowed him to use a stethoscope on an agency volunteer.

WHILE VISITING THE Vergennes Area Rescue Squad to donate two-dozen ice cream gift certificates to VARS members, 8-year-old Hunter Warner operates an intercom while taking a short ride in one of the agency ambulances.
Photo courtesy of Holly Weber

Hunter didn’t hesitate when asked about the best part of his visit to VARS: “Going for a ride in the ambulance.”

According to VARS Vice President Christina Brace the agency was happy to see Hunter.

“He’s just a really sweet kid,” Brace said. “He’s a little gem.”

She also credited George and Stacey Leggett for Hunter’s selflessness.

“They’ve done something right.” Brace said.

But Stacey Leggett said she and George don’t like to take credit.

“He’s a good kid. Everybody says you’re doing something right,” she said. “And I’m like, this is something he wanted to do. We’re just encouraging him.”

Stacey acknowledged helping Hunter focus his desire to support those who serve by brainstorming the idea with him.

“I think we came up with it together,” she said.

Now Hunter has plans for more.

“Next summer he’s doing the fire department here,” Stacey said. “And he’s doing the sheriff’s department next month, and our public works department next month. It’s his way of saying thank you. It’s just something he wanted to start doing. Right now he’s just got a sense of community. He’s basically grown up in this town. It’s his way of saying thank you for everything you do.”