MIDDLEBORO — What’s sweeter than buying chocolate and helping homeless animals?

Doing both at the same time.

Customers at Middleboro Antiques Co-Ops in the town center can do just that while fueling up during a long shopping adventure. 

The business, which features antiques and collectibles from a variety of vendors, sells chocolate bars at the counter where purchases are rung up.

Proceeds from the sales of the $2.50 bars, which are made by Hillards Chocolates, are donated to the Lakeville and Middleboro animal shelters. 

One month, the sales are donated to Lakeville, the next month to Middleboro.

The business owner, Kelly Shumway, lives in Lakeville and began donating the proceeds to the Lakeville shelter. But she recently added Middleboro to the program.

Select Board member Tom White spoke with gratitude about the addition of Middleboro during a recent Select Board meeting.

More than $7,500 has been raised for both shelters since she started the program in March 2022.

Giving back has always been part of Shumway’s business philosophy. She previously donated to special education programs at Middleboro High School, in part to thank the students there for doing small jobs at the store.

A long-time animal lover, she decided to add the shelter program. 

She jumped in and had immediate success, she said. “They sell themselves,’’ she said.

Chocolate is a popular impulse purchase anyway, and with the added carrot of helping animals, sales have been sweet.

“We keep getting more, and they keep selling,’’ she said. “People are hungry after shopping and they love that it’s for an animal shelter. It’s kind of a win/win.’’