WASHINGTON, Kan. -- People always wonder how they can be a help in their community. But it really can be as simple as a small little ice cream stand. 

That is exactly what has happened in a Kansas town 20 minutes from the Nebraska border, Washington. 

An ice cream stand owned by Mary Dodd, which only opens during its yearly county fair, has raised funds for different community projects for years.

“I’m really big at supporting our county and I like to give back,” said Dodd. “This is my way of doing it.”

This year, she planned on raising funds for the county’s playground project.

And while setting up for another year, they received help from an outside source, the Washington County Hospital. 

“I saw that they were going to donate to the playground equipment this year which is a very worthwhile cause for the whole county to enjoy,” said Roxanne Schottle, CEO of Washington County Hospital. “So, we decided to ask if it would be possible that we would buy the ice cream for the ice cream stand so they could donate more money to the ice cream stand.”

And the stand raised $4,500 from the four days at the fair. 

Funds that will help the 24-year-old playground equipment receive an update.

“So, we want to continue to upgrade it and replace it with something that has a longer lifespan this next go-around,” said Caroline Scoville, City of Washington Employee.

For Scoville, she hopes this update can get the kids out playing again. 

“Hopefully get some kids to come outside and be active and continue to enjoy our park area, because we really do have a beautiful playground down here that we are proud of,” said Scoville.

And for the hospital and its support of Dodd’s ice cream stand for next year?

“I don’t want to commit to it at this point but there are a lot of good causes within the county and it is a very big possibility,” said Schottle.