by Alan Hodge

Age does not need to be a stumbling block when it comes to doing good deeds. Nine-year-old Madison Cannon of Cornelius is proof.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, she held a bake sale and pet supply donation drive at her home in the Victoria Bay subdivision to raise money for the Humane Society of Charlotte. She distributed flyers throughout the neighborhood to make sure the word got out.

In the first hour nine customers had dropped by. By the time the day was over and the cookies, cupcakes, muffins and other baked goods were sold, Madison had collected $64 from friends and neighbors.

The cardboard box she had on hand was brimming with more than $40 worth of donated items such as dog biscuits, chew toys, and bleach to clean kennels with.

“She had wanted to volunteer at the Humane Society facility in Charlotte,” said Madison’s mother, Jennifer Williams-Cannon. “But you have to be 18-years-old. When I told the Humane Society about Madison’s idea for a fundraiser bake sale, they were tickled and thought it was a wonderful idea.”

Charlotte Humane Society Volunteer Coordinator Cat Belteau was impressed with the bake sale outcome and the effort that went into it.

“Madison did an incredible job,” Belteau said. “She put a lot of work into it. The amount she raised is important because we can feed a kitten for $25 a month.”

The Charlotte Humane Society gave Madison a special award pin for her hard work.

Madison’s inspiration to help came after she adopted a boxer named Chloe from the Charlotte Humane Society about a year ago.

“It was fun to have the bake sale,” she said. “I would like to do it again in the near future. Next time I’ll ask my friends to help. If their parents baked treats we could make an even bigger contribution to the Humane Society.”

Neighbor Cheryl Jensen stopped by the baked good table and was looking over the tempting goodies.

“It’s good to see a young person giving back to the community,” Jensen said. “It’s a very nice thing she’s doing.”

Another neighbor, Sally Malone agreed.

“Madison is setting a good example for others,” Malone said. “Besides, who doesn’t like animals?”

Alice Chitwood also was checking out the treats.

“This sort of thing is fantastic,” Chitwood said. “It’s so good Madison is thinking of other people and animals.”

Madison’s mom was pleased at the sense of community that the bake sale generated.

“The neighbors really came through,” she said.

For more information on ways to help the Humane Society of Charlotte, contact Cat Belteau at 704-494-7706.