Health Wellness and
Our Community Coping with COVID
DCD Student Starts Charitable Business to Help with COVID By Leslie Bowen
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ising DCD fifth-grader Max Caponigro and his friend Daniel Grant, who both live in Milton, have been making dog treats this summer to raise money for the Milton Food Pantry to help people who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. As reported in the Patriot Ledger (6-30-2020, by Mary Whitfill; photographs by Gregg Derr), the boys started making dog treats as a way to stay busy while schools were closed. Eventually, they turned it into a thriving business, selling the homemade treats to dog owners in their neighborhood. The boys sell three types of biscuits—bacon, almond butter, and chicken—made from homemade batter and baked using a Sunbeam dog treat maker. They’ve had to buy three of them to keep up with the demand. After spending hours together in the kitchen mixing batter, baking the dog treats, and labeling bags, the boys deliver the orders by bike. Each bag contains four large or eight small treats and sells for $4 per bag. “A lot of people have dogs in my neighborhood and almost everybody with a dog bought one,” said Max. Even people who
didn’t have any dogs bought treats and asked the boys to donate them to the local animal shelter. Max and Daniel decided to donate their proceeds to the Milton Food Pantry after they noticed people lined up outside to receive food. “We wanted to pick a charity that would help with COVID, and the food pantry has been really busy,” said Max. The boys have made multiple donations to the food pantry, which receives 30 percent of the sales. The remaining 10 percent is for buying supplies. As Max’s mother noted, “I think it’s made a real impact for them to walk next door, see the lines of people, and hand them a check.”
“It feels so good to help other people,” commented DCD fourth-grader, Caden Schnitman as he and his sister, Weslie, a third-grader, worked with their mom Laurel to assemble and fill special Spring/Easter treat bags for admitted children on Ellison 18 at MassGeneral Hospital for Children, where Laurel is a Child Life Specialist. During these times, there are many lessons happening beyond the classroom! #dcdstaysconnected #dedhamcountrydayschool 12
