What began as a summer project to support his brother’s hockey team turned into an inspiring community effort, raising $20,000 after officials shut down a young boy’s ice cream stand.
Danny Doherty, a 12-year-old from Norwood, Massachusetts, decided to sell homemade ice cream to raise funds for his brother’s hockey team, the Boston Bear Cubs, which features players with physical and developmental disabilities.
Danny’s stand offered flavors like vanilla, shaved chocolate, and fluffernutter to about 20 customers before it was ordered to shut down by the Norwood Board of Health.
The shutdown
A letter from the Norwood Board of Health arrived on August 5, notifying the Doherty family that Danny’s ice cream stand violated the Massachusetts Food Code. “I was surprised and upset,” Danny said. “I don’t understand because there are so many lemonade stands and they don’t get shut down.”
His mother, Nancy Doherty, shared his disappointment. “Somebody complained. That was the most disappointing part for us was that somebody thought it necessary to complain about a child’s stand,” she lamented. “It seemed a little, you know, crazy if you ask me.”
Undeterred, Danny decided to give away the ice cream and accept donations for the Boston Bear Cubs. The first day of this new approach saw supplies run out in just 10 minutes, raising $1,000. As word spread, local media picked up the story, and community support surged.
Community support
Local businesses joined the cause, including Furlong’s Candies, which teamed up with Boston radio station WWBX-FM for a fundraiser. The event raised $3,600, with lines stretching out the door.
“Danny was trying to do a good thing for his brother’s team — and it’s not just a regular hockey team,” said Nancy Thrasher, the store’s co-owner. “They need a lot more equipment … We were like this is a perfect situation for us to get involved in.”
The town’s perspective
Town officials received backlash, including hate mail and death threats, which they argued were based on misunderstandings. “We had to deal with staff who were upset that they were being threatened,” said Tony Mazzucco, Norwood’s town manager. He explained that the shutdown was due to legitimate health concerns, as homemade ice cream can be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes or other bacteria.
Danny’s situation is not unique, with similar shutdowns occurring elsewhere for youth-run lemonade stands or bake sales lacking permits. Several states have moved to lessen restrictions on such ventures.
A Positive outcome
Despite the initial setback, the community’s response was overwhelming. “The community response has overwhelmed us,” said John Quill, director and coach of the Boston Bear Cubs, as he accepted a check from an auto group at the Dohertys’ house. In the end, about $20,000 was raised, ensuring the club’s financial stability for the next decade.
“There are a lot of good people out there,” Quill added. “Danny inspired a whole lot of people to do good and to be kind and to help us out.”