Clark 5-Year-Old Bakes Chocolate Smash Hearts To Help Needy

CLARK, NJ — At only 5-years-old, Mason Francisco of Clark wants nothing more than to help kids who are less fortunate than him. He recently began baking chocolate smash hearts and is donating the proceeds to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Food Bank of Rahway.

Mason's love of giving began when he was 3-year-old, said Mason's mom Nicole Francisco.

"We started to explain to him how to donate and that we can't be selfish. We taught him that it's not about having to donate but wanting to do it. We never forced him to do it," said Francisco.

It started small with donating clothes to the bins at Walmart and then grew from there. Then when the coronavirus pandemic hit, Mason learned about how it was impacting families.

"It's an eyeopener. Due to the pandemic, so many people lost their jobs," said Francisco. "He saw this as more of a reason to donate. Others don't have toys or Nintendo. They don't have a lot of things we take for granted."

To help those less fortunate, Mason asked his parents if he could donate all of his toys from this past Christmas to Toys For Tots.

"I said, 'OK, let's do it.' And he donated his toys," said Francisco.

Mason wanted to do more to help. Recently he found this trendy idea of "chocolate smash boxes" on YouTube and wanted to make them to sell and donate the money.

Smash boxes are chocolate shells that you smash open and reveal candy and other prizes inside. Mason called his aunt, Samantha Bruno, to help and together with his parents they got baking.

The boxes sell for $35 each and Mason has probably already made 50 so far and raised more than $1,000. All of the money raised is used to buy supplies and then the rest is donated to the children's hospitals and local food banks.

"I am so proud of him. Overwhelmed with an amazing feeling. He is just so giving," said Francisco. "He has a pure heart of gold."

Helping others is who Mason is. Francisco says he doesn't want anything in return. And he is the same way with animals. He will take in any animal and never kills bugs.

"Mason is the sweetest little boy with the kindest heart," said Bruno.

"We are all proud of him, amazed by him," said Francisco.

To order a Smash Heart or to donate to Mason's cause email Masonsbox10@gmail.com.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.