When 12 year old Danny Doherty grew bored and idle during his summer vacation, his mother suggested he start an ice cream stand, noting that their family made ice cream at home all the time, and it would stand out among the dime a dozen lemonade stands.
They decided early on that they’d donate 50% of what they made to the Boston Bears Club — the special needs hockey team that his autistic older brother belonged to since he was 5 years old.
Danny eagerly got to work, collaborating with his mother to come up with different flavors, an official name for his business, a logo and an Instagram to spread the word to family, friends and neighbors.
They cleverly named the stand Tree Street Treats and sold vanilla, shaved chocolate, cannoli and New England fluffernutter flavored ice cream. In their first week operating, they made $124, and donated $62 to the Boston Bears Club. But shortly after, the town of Norwood’s Board of Health sent them an official letter, demanding they shut down the stand.
“The Norwood Health Department has received a complaint that you are making and selling scooped ice cream and cookies at your residential property. The Massachusetts Food Code (105CMR. 590) does not allow for the sale of ice cream made in the home. Please desist in these activities.”
They could have thrown out the ice cream or saved it for themselves, but opted to give it away instead. While they were disappointed in the town’s decision, they decided they would continue accepting donations on behalf of the Boston Bears Club, and made an incredible impact. They ran out of ice cream within ten minutes but raked in approximately $1,000 in donations. In spite of their local Board of Health forcing them to close the stand, the absurdity of the situation has driven their community to support them and their chosen cause in a huge way.
“I talked to the head coach, and I think they were up to $6,000 or something already. So that’s, you know, heartwarming… We took a disappointing and discouraging situation. We made a decision to do something positive with it — and look at all of the positivity that came out of it.”
John Quill, who founded the Boston Bears Club 25 years ago was thrilled with the outpouring of support. “Three local ice cream shops have reached out to do fundraisers and it has raised awareness of our team. I’ve had a number of parents reach out as they did not know that special hockey even existed.”
When asked about the town’s decision to shut down her son’s stand, Nancy Doherty said that she was more upset by the fact that a neighbor felt the need to alert the authorities over a kid selling ice cream.
“I think the most disappointing part of that was that someone, one of our neighbors, somebody driving by, decided to take time to complain about a kid’s stand. I was really not mad. I’d say more disappointed that happened.”
When asked why she didn’t fight the decision, she said that as a single mother, she simply didn’t have the time or energy for it.
You Do Know! One day the complainer’s will receive a message from God almighty that is not going to be to there liking. Although they will not understand it cause they have a one track mind .Anyway,kudos to the to the Little Boy 👦 for his big heart and Loving way he tried but successfully helped others.
Pay attention people!Communists/Democrats don’t like children .They are the Abortion promoters.