A 12-year-old boy from Norwood, Massachusetts, named Danny Doherty, and his mother, Nancy Doherty, started a small ice cream stand in their neighborhood with some proceeds going to charity. However, after only one week of operation, they were forced to shut down due to a food code violation complaint. The family decided to give away the remaining ice cream to friends and family while accepting donations for the Boston Bears Club, a special education hockey team that Danny’s autistic brother, Patrick, is a part of. Despite the setback, the Dohertys were able to raise over $1,000 for the charity, with a total of $7,500 in donations received.
When Nancy Doherty suggested to her son, Danny, that he should start an ice cream stand during the summer vacation, he was excited about the idea. With his family making their own ice cream at home, they worked together to come up with various flavors for the stand, including vanilla, shaved chocolate, cannoli, and a New England fluffernutter. Danny designed his own business logo and created an Instagram account to advertise the sweets sale to family and friends. Half of the proceeds from the ice cream sales went to the Boston Bears Club, which provides opportunities for children with special needs to play hockey.
The Doherty’s ice cream stand, named “Tree Street Treats,” received a positive response from the community, with many people showing up to support them. Despite the setback caused by the Town of Norwood Board of Health shutting down their stand due to a food code violation, the family decided to give away the remaining ice cream while accepting donations for the Boston Bears Club. The Dohertys were able to raise over $1,000 for the charity, with more than 200 donations totaling $7,500 received. The incident also raised awareness about special education hockey and led to local ice cream shops reaching out to do fundraisers for the team.
Nancy Doherty expressed disappointment that a neighbor or passerby took the time to complain about her son’s ice cream stand, but she chose to focus on the positive outcomes that came from the situation. Despite not having the energy or time to fight back against the Town of Norwood Board of Health’s decision, she remained grateful for the community’s support and the funds raised for the Boston Bears Club. The family’s decision to turn a discouraging situation into a positive outcome resulted in significant support for the charity and the special education hockey team, highlighting the impact of community involvement and generosity.
The Dohertys’ ice cream stand, “Tree Street Treats,” was a creative venture that aimed to provide a fun summer activity for Danny while also supporting a cause close to their hearts. The family’s homemade ice cream flavors and charitable focus attracted a positive response from the community, with many people showing up to purchase ice cream and support the Boston Bears Club. Despite the setback of the stand being shut down due to a food code violation, the Dohertys were able to turn the situation around by giving away the remaining ice cream to friends and family while accepting donations for the charity, resulting in a substantial amount raised for the Boston Bears Club and increased awareness for special education hockey.
