In Norwood, Massachusetts, a young entrepreneur’s dream of spreading joy through homemade ice cream was put on hold when town officials cited a food code violation.
Danny Doherty, a 12-year-old with a heart of gold, was forced to close his ice cream stand after only a week of operation.
But what could have been a disappointing end turned into a story of resilience, community support, and unexpected success.
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Danny’s venture, which he named “Tree Street Treats,” began as a way to combat the boredom of summer vacation. With his mother, Nancy Doherty, by his side, the duo decided to bring their family’s love for homemade ice cream to their neighborhood.
What started as a small, local initiative quickly grew, thanks in part to Danny’s creativity and the allure of unique flavors like vanilla with shaved chocolate, cannoli, and a New England fluffernutter.
“I suggested to him, ‘Instead of a lemonade stand, if you really want to generate some interest, why don’t you make ice cream?’” Nancy Doherty shared.
The idea resonated with Danny, who eagerly embraced the challenge of running his own business. He even designed a logo for “Tree Street Treats” and created an Instagram account to spread the word among family and friends.
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The stand was not just about selling ice cream; it was about giving back.
Danny decided to donate half of the proceeds to the Boston Bears Club, a special education hockey team for kids, including his older brother, Patrick, who is autistic. “It’s my brother’s hockey team… It’s where he goes and plays hockey,” Danny explained.
The team has been a significant part of Patrick’s life for the past decade, providing him with a supportive community and a place to play the sport he loves.
In its first week, “Tree Street Treats” was a hit, raising $124, half of which was donated to the Boston Bears Club.
But just as things were picking up, the Dohertys received a letter from the Town of Norwood Board of Health.
The letter, which cited the Massachusetts Food Code, stated that selling homemade ice cream was not allowed, and the stand had to cease operations immediately.
“The Norwood Health Department has received a complaint that you are making and selling scooped ice cream and cookies at your residential property,” the letter read.
“The Massachusetts Food Code (105CMR. 590) does not allow for the sale of ice cream made in the home. Please desist in these activities.”
The news was a blow to Danny and his mother. “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,” Nancy Doherty told Fox News Digital.
Despite her frustration, Nancy chose not to fight the decision, acknowledging the limits of her time and energy as a solo parent.
Instead of letting the situation defeat them, the Dohertys decided to turn it into a positive experience.
Rather than discarding the remaining ice cream, they invited friends and family to enjoy it, accepting donations for the Bears Club in lieu of payment.
The response was overwhelming. “We had so many people show up to support us, and we ran out of our ice cream in 10 minutes, but we raised about $1,000,” Nancy recalled.
The ripple effect of Danny’s initiative extended far beyond their neighborhood. John Quill, the founder of the Boston Bears Club, reported that the stand had inspired over 200 donations, totaling $7,500.
“Three local ice cream shops have reached out to do fundraisers, and it has raised awareness of our team,” Quill said.
“I’ve had a number of parents reach out as they did not know that special hockey even existed.”
For Nancy and Danny, the outpouring of support has been a silver lining in what started as a discouraging situation.
“We made a decision to do something positive with it — and look at all of the positivity that came out of it,” Nancy said, reflecting on the experience.
While “Tree Street Treats” may no longer be operating as an ice cream stand, its impact continues to be felt.
The story serves as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of supporting small, meaningful initiatives.
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Danny’s simple idea to make and sell ice cream has not only brought joy to his neighbors but has also made a significant contribution to a cause close to his heart.
As for Danny, his entrepreneurial spirit remains undeterred. Although the ice cream stand is no more, the lessons learned and the connections made will undoubtedly inspire his next venture.
And who knows? Perhaps one day, “Tree Street Treats” will find a new way to bring sweetness to the world.
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Whatever asshat neighbor reported the kid was probably the same person ratting out people trying to live their lives during the covid scam.
Always a bluenose Karen!
I’m happy about the story but mad as a wet hen about ANY government dictating what you can make and sell. Ice cream is NOT illegal, the legislature overstepped their duties and became dictators.
One of the best things about free states is driving through a subdivision and smelling fresh cinnamon rolls, destined for a local shop, coming from the oven.
LET PEOPLE MAKE A LIVING!!
I would generally agree but what if you and your family showed up to an unregulated and unlicensed food purveyor and got sick from the food? Listeria, salmonella and other food borne illnesses can be serious medical conditions. There is a reason why our society regulates food sold to the public.
They are serious illnesses. and MILLIONS of Americans get them almost every day from the LICENSED food suppliers and restaurants that sell the products. I wonder how many neighborhood ice cream stands have made anyone sick???
Bureaucratically speaking TonyP, you are quite right, but surely there are ways of quietly and helpfully advising given the circumstances ? Very few “Mothers” are incapable of producing safe healthy food for their families – otherwise the entire nation would spend most of its lifetime in hospitals ! Simple “Food Safety & Higiene” courses are usually available quite freely via local Womens’ groups and are a simple route to ensuring “Food Safety” should the bureaucratic mind “need” certification and not simply “Licensing Fees” to feel “cosy” about the situation here !
And what if you got hit by lighting You sound like the government I don’t need any of you freaks protecting me
When you buy food, you evaluate the source of it. You. Yourself. You choose. If you personally want to buy nothing but factory-produced food, you are certainly welcome to.
Allow others to choose for ourselves.