In Norwood, Massachusetts, 12-year-old Danny Doherty came up with the idea to sell homemade ice cream during the summer to raise money for his brother’s hockey team. However, soon after setting up the stand and serving flavors like vanilla, shaved chocolate, and fluffernutter to around 20 people, the family received a letter from the Norwood Board of Health instructing them to close down the stand due to a violation of the Massachusetts Food Code.

Surprised and disappointed by the shutdown notice that arrived on August 5th, Danny expressed confusion as to why his stand faced closure when many lemonade stands operate without any issues. His mother, Nancy Doherty, who supported the stand on the condition that half of the proceeds would go to charity, was also disheartened by the complaint that led to the shutdown.

Rather than giving up, Danny decided to give away the ice cream and accept donations for the Boston Bear Cubs, a hockey team inclusive of players with physical and developmental disabilities, including his autistic brother. What started as a neighborhood fundraiser quickly gained attention and support from the Norwood community.

Local media coverage of Danny’s stand and the clash with town authorities led to an overwhelming response with numerous businesses organizing fundraisers for the hockey team. Despite understanding the necessity of the shutdown, some, like Nancy Thrasher from Furlong’s Candies, felt sympathy for Danny’s intentions to support his brother’s team.

Town officials received backlash, including hate mail and threats, following the shutdown of the stand. They clarified that the decision was made after multiple complaints and attempts to contact the family, while also emphasizing health concerns surrounding the sale of homemade ice cream.

The incident shed light on similar cases where youth-run stands were shut down due to permit issues. While Nancy Doherty regretted the threats received by town employees, she clarified that the family had never sold ice cream before, although Danny had created an Instagram account to promote the stand.

Despite feeling overwhelmed by the attention, Danny’s efforts raised approximately $20,000 for the hockey team, ensuring their financial stability for years to come. John Quill, the director and coach of the Boston Bear Cubs, expressed gratitude for the community’s support and credited Danny for inspiring kindness and generosity among people.