It was a sunny day by the fountain at the Bon Air Shopping Center. The Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop was buzzing with excitement. Children of all ages were smiling as they licked their ice cream cones.
“You get your favorite kind of ice cream for free!” chimed 7-year-old Rosemary, holding an ice cream cone in each hand. She was holding on tightly licking the cones back and forth and sometimes holding them close together so she could lick both of them at the same time. When I asked her why she had two, she said, “My sister didn’t like hers so my mom gave it to me!”
Rosemary and her sister Ava, 3, and friend Ella, 7, sat side by side on the fountain’s ledge in the sun licking their ice creams. They posed for a picture but could hardly answer my questions because they were so excited about their free ice cream cones.
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Jake, age 4, was eating every bit of his ice cream. When I asked him what his favorite flavor was I heard “Chocolate!” It was plain to see, since his face and shirt were covered with chocolate ice cream.
Children were lined up in the small kiosk scoop shop with their faces pressed up against the glass ice cream cases happily choosing their flavor. I could hear, “I want two scoops! Where’s my ice cream? What’s that kind?”
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Once they had ice cream in hand, desires were fulfilled and tummies were nourished.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream has been around for 33 years and this was the celebration of the company’s birthday. What a wonderful way to celebrate! Free Cone Day has been a FUN event for over 30 years. The ice cream is free and all are invited to donate to the local charity on hand. This year's charity was the Gilead House in Novato.
When I came upon a group of three youngsters and their moms, sitting at a table outside, they greeted me with big smiles and fists of ice cream. They happily posed for a picture and the kids eagerly gave me some on camera interviews.
Jane, 6, and twins Chase and Chloe, 5½, eagerly told me their favorite flavors. (see the video and listen closely)
When I asked them, “Besides eating ice cream, what other fun things do you like to do?” Between ice cream licks, Chase said, “Play Star Wars Legos!” Jane added, “Barbies!” and Chloe offered, “Play with American Girls!”
They all corrected me when I asked them if they were in 1st grade. “No, we are in Kindergarten!!!” I said, “Really?! You are all so big and smart and mature.” Then Chloe asserted, “I’m 1 inch taller than Jane AND Chase!”
These growing little spirits were enjoying a fun afternoon at the Bon Air Center. There was a sense of community in the air. The sun, the fountain, joyful adults, smiling children and especially gallons of ice cream were filling the hearts and tummies of all who were there.
Thank you Ben & Jerry’s and Gilead House for a wonderful and FUN community event!
Until next Wednesday, remember, it is all “for the love of kids…”
