Denton resident William Walker, 7, hopes to raise money and collect supplies for an area animal shelter, so he’s offering an incentive for donations: hot cocoa on a cold day.

William will be manning a stand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at 2216 Miranda Place in Denton, and any gift for the shelter, large or small, will bring the donor a cup of homemade cocoa and a cookie.

“We need kitty stuff, dog stuff and some money,” William said, promising that he’ll also provide marshmallows at his hot cocoa stand for those who want them.

All monetary donations from Sunday’s fundraiser will benefit the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter medical fund, said Holly Walker, William’s mother. Contributions of pet food, cat litter and other items for the shelter also will be accepted.

Holly Walker said her son often volunteers at the shelter and recently declared that he wanted to do more.

“He decided out of the blue that he would like to make sure the shelter has food, litter and other supplies,” she said. “He noticed they were really lacking in some things.”

“I wanted to give them [animals] the love that they didn’t have,” William said.

At first, William wanted to have a lemonade stand, his mother said, but she suggested that hot cocoa might be more appropriate, considering current weather conditions. He’s been actively promoting the event, she added.

“He recently passed out fliers in freezing cold weather in our neighborhood,” she said. “I am so proud as a parent.”

Sunday’s fundraiser is the second phase of William’s efforts to help the animal shelter, his mother said. He recently conducted a campaign at his elementary school in Carrollton, writing a letter to all teachers explaining why he wanted to raise money for the shelter. He also was interviewed by a counselor during the school’s announcement time and talked about his campaign.

The resulting donations totaled $200, Holly Walker said, and anyone who chipped in received a cup of cocoa and a cookie.

“It’s been a wonderful experience for him,” she said.

William, a second-grader, said he enjoys playing baseball and helping his mother out around the house in addition to his volunteer work at the animal shelter.

“He’s one of these kids who really likes to help other people,” Holly Walker said.

William’s father, Maj. Kenneth Ross Walker, is on active duty with the Texas National Guard, and completed back-to-back tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq two years ago, Holly Walker said.

“We’re a military family, and we’ve been through two deployments,” she said. “William knows how good we have it and understands that we need to pay forward to other causes.

William’s 11-year-old brother, Austin, has offered to help out at the hot cocoa stand, Holly Walker said.

“We’ll all be there on Sunday,” she said.

LES COCKRELL can be reached at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com.

HOW TO HELP

What: Hot cocoa stand, benefiting the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: 2216 Miranda Place in Denton

Details: Monetary donations will benefit the shelter’s medical fund. Pet food, cat litter and other items will be collected for the shelter.

About the shelter: The shelter is located at 687 N. Lakeview Drive in Lake Dallas. For more information, call 940-497-7090.