Every community has a local ice cream parlor. It is as American as apple pie. But not all ice cream shops have a mission.
When he opened his ice cream shop, Everyday Sundae in Washington, D.C., Charles Foreman, 53, had a goal in mind, “My goal is to make a positive impact in my community by treating people like family and remembering them,” he said. Washington Post.
With its business slogan, “A place for community,” the Foreman’s store has quickly gained a loyal following, The Washington Post reports. Patrons visit regularly to enjoy their favorite flavours; Artwork and cards from local children adorn the walls; A beneficiary bought tissue paper there to support the store. Foreman has also organized events such as story readings accompanied by a sweet treat for children from a nearby daycare.
What really sets this business apart is that it’s free Ice cream That Foreman distributes generously.
“You know when they come in, you can see them,” Foreman said. today He also talked about how he could tell if a visitor wanted a treatment he couldn’t afford. “It was only natural for me to (notice) that some kids have it and some kids don’t. So I’m going to babysit them” and give them free ice cream.
Location is everything
The Everyday Sundae is located in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C., a troubled area that has seen its share of crime, according to TODAY. When Foreman is laid off as a corporate chef due to the pandemic, he decides to pursue his dream. He believed him Community He was missing a family friendly ice cream shop.
“You know, they say an ice cream shop in your neighborhood is a sign that the neighborhood is turning around, that things are getting better,” Forman said. “Anyone who knows this area knows that Kennedy Street isn’t the friendliest area, and it can get shady there, let’s put it that way. So that was it. I just wanted to be a dead center in my community and do something positive.”
One day, Nicole Harkin, one of his regular customers, notices Foreman giving away a free cone to a kid with no money. For Foreman, it was a steady gesture that no one noticed, but Harkin’s reaction was surprising.
“Nicole, she saw me giving one of the kids ice cream and the next week she came back and handed me this envelope with my name on it,” Foreman adds. “I looked at the envelope after she left and it was $100.”
push it forward
Foreman was so moved by Harkin’s gift that he published it Instagram. Then other patrons began bringing in cash to cover the free ice cream Foreman was giving out to people they didn’t know.
“You know, giving things away when you’re a small business owner isn’t great business practice,” Harkin said with a laugh. “But I could see him trying to do a bigger job of improving the neighborhood. It was really nice to see him give ice cream cones away and make a tangible difference in his neighborhood.”
The Foreman Ice Cream Fund has received many donations since then, and for once, store visitors began buying cones for the people behind them in line, starting Push it forward chain that lasted for hours.
“A police officer came and bought ice cream and said he wanted to buy two scoops for the next two kids that came,” Foreman said. So the next two kids came with their mom and I said, “There was an officer and he bought the next two scoops,” and she was like, “Well, we want to buy two scoops for the next kids after us.” “”
You reap what you sow
Every Sunday offers a rotating menu of around 50 well-known and refreshing flavors including 24 anytime options, such as Cappuccino Crunch, Black Cherry, Rich dark chocolate Hazelnut fudge, brown butter, bourbon truffle, reports The Washington Post. Generous portions. There are three tablespoons of whatever flavors you choose in one serving, and the double includes six. But generosity is not limited to portion size.
“When you see people doing their best, you want to do your best,” Foreman told The Washington Post. “Everything is contagious, whether you’re doing something negative or positive.
“That’s just part of being in the community,” Foreman added. “We are supposed to do everything we can to help each other.”
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