“FREE ice cream, you guys have FREE ice cream? We saw the sign out front, so we thought we’d check it out.”

“The folks at Let’s Make A Difference said you have FREE ice cream.”

“My friend told me you had FREE ice cream, so I came up.”

Good news travels fast, especially when it contains the words: FREE ice cream. Seventy-two customers showed up, hungry for a treat on a perfect summer night. The initial rush of customers caused me to text my daughter, who was on her way to help, “More whipped cream!” and still later “and more ice cream!”

Eventually I made a mad rush out for more whipped cream, ice cream and chocolate syrup. We went start to finish with customers filling the counter, the way you love to see the café operating. We would have been hurtin’ without the help of a community service volunteer.

We had some great customers, including some young kids that drew pictures of the ice cream for us. It, like the ice cream, was sweet! My hope is that we can continue to see some of these folks in the weeks to come and have the opportunity to share Christ and His word with them. One opportunity yields another.

As our numbers increase on Tuesday night, we could use more supplies: Pails of ice cream, Chocolate syrup, Whipped cream in cans, plus whatever assortment of ice cream fixings folks might want to bless us with (nut topping, sprinkles, fruit toppings, etc).

As Tim says, “Thanks for servin’ the King!”

Bill Marras

Bobby and Suzie came into the cafe looking worn. They said they needed something warm to eat & I set them up with a couple of my Sloppy Joes. You could sense that as I talked to them and fed them they came a bit out of their shells. They talked about being "down on their luck" with very little income.

This week the gas was shut off at their place because they couldn't pay on time. They ached as they told me about their children needing to be with their grandparents so that they could be warm. The only thing heating their apartment right now is the electric stove, which they figure will cost quite a bit.

I shared with them that we all are undergoing challenges, but that God is in control even in the midst of what seems chaos and that God loves them. They talked about not having enough money to buy food. Tim suggested we get them something from our storage area, and I was able to put together a bag of food that should last them awhile.

When I got home last night after my shift, my wife asked me what I did today. I told her the story of Bobby & Suzie. Serving them and being there to encourage them was the best thing I did all day. I now pray that they will come back to the cafe so that we can minister to them again with food and with God's word. Please pray for them that they would see God's grace intervene in their lives.

Bill