A 12-year-old boy’s ice cream stand had to close when he tried to raise money for his brother’s hockey team. Thanks to community members, around $20,000 was raised for the club.

Danny Doherty of Norwood spent several days this summer selling homemade ice cream before his family received a letter from the city’s health department saying the stand was in violation of the Massachusetts food code, according to the Associated Press and Fox News.

In the Aug. 5 letter shared by FOX News, officials said they had received “a complaint” about what was happening at the family’s property and ordered it closed because regulations prohibit the “sale of home-made ice cream.”

“I was shocked and upset,” Danny told the AP.

According to FOX affiliate WFXT, the boy wanted to donate half of his earnings to the Boston Bear Cubs, a local hockey program for young adults with disabilities of which his brother is a member.

According to Fox News, Danny’s 15-year-old brother Patrick, who has been autistic since he was five, is on the team.

In order not to waste the ice cream, the family decided to give away the rest of their ice cream production while accepting additional donations for the hockey team, according to FOX News.

“So many people came to support us that our ice cream ran out after 10 minutes, but we raised about $1,000,” said Danny’s mother, Nancy Doherty.

As the news spread, more people in the community showed their support, including Furlong’s Candies of Norwood and Boston radio station WWBX-FM, which joined forces for a fundraiser that raised thousands, according to AP and WFXT.

Nancy Thrasher, co-owner of Furlong’s, said her “heart broke” for Danny after learning of the incident. “He just wanted to do something good for his brother’s team,” she told AP.

Thanks to the generosity of his community, ca. According to AP, $20,000 has now been raised for the Boston Bear Cubs.

Bear Cubs manager John Quill told WFXT the funds will help them with tuition discounts and more. “It’s our 20th anniversary season,” he added, “so I’m hoping we can order special jerseys.”

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According to the AP, some city officials said they received hate mail and death threats in the wake of the incidents, and several complaints were filed against them.

City Manager Tony Mazzucco said there were “legitimate health concerns” about the stand due to possible contamination with listeria or other bacteria. He claimed it was the “first time in recent memory” that a stand had been shut down, even though lemonade stands and bake sales are allowed by law.

The Norwood Board of Health did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Danny told WFXT this was a great lesson in overcoming adversity.

“In the face of adversity, you should think a little differently and see what you can do,” she said. “If you run into a mountain, maybe you can turn it into a molehill.”