Despite a ban on selling unhealthy food in British Columbia schools, Mark Stoklosa and Frank Summerford, two Grade 11 students at Moscrop Secondary School, sold candy, gum, and chocolate — not quite the healthier fare found in the vending machines.
“We came to school one day, and noticed that all the vending machines were replaced with food like apple chips and bran,” said Stoklosa, the money manager. “It’s pretty expensive too, like $2.50 for a small bag of apple chips.”
They called their business Original Fresh, and at the grand opening in September, Stoklosa and Summerford, respectively nicknamed Goggles and The Fern, strolled through the hallways geared with fake mustaches and eye glasses to promote their new venture.
Instead of walking to the nearest convenience store, many students chose to purchase their Aero, Fuzzy Peach, and Kit Kat from Original Fresh.
But the underground business — which didn't stay underground for long — was not about earning cash for themselves but about helping others. Last Friday, the enterprising duo donated the $500 they made in September and October to B.C. Children's Hospital.
The profits from the first 30 originally designed “Original Fresh” T-shirts will go to the Royal Canadian Legion for war veterans as the “charity of the month” for November.
A new charity will be chosen for December, likely a homeless shelter or food bank, said Stoklosa, which will receive a certain percentage of each T-shirt’s profit after the first 30.
Despite their success, the school administrators urged the young entrepreneurs to stop selling the sugary treats. So Stoklosa and Summerford are now running their business across the street from the school. However, they are planning to move on from junk food.
“We're allowed to sell across the street, but we're kind of phasing out of candy and are moving more into clothing,” said Stoklosa.
