Scoop for Scoop in Guatemala!
Little Man Ice Cream rang in 2016 by sending a team of employees to Guatemala to conduct a Scoop for Scoop donation this past January.
As part of Little Man Ice Cream’s continuing commitment to giving back through its Scoop for Scoop program, the Little Man team is pleased to announce that three of its employees traveled to the small village of San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala to conduct their latest Scoop for Scoop donation this past January! The mission team was made up of Little Man Ice Cream Owner Paul Tamburello, Kitchen Manager and Executive Chef Jordan Stearns, and Community Outreach Coordinator Patrick J Garrett.
Scoop for Scoop is Little Man’s commitment to donating a scoop of rice, beans, or other culturally appropriate food for every scoop of ice cream sold to communities in need all around the world. Since Little Man opened its doors, Scoop for Scoop has been the backbone of its philanthropic efforts. Scoop for Scoop has helped to feed thousands of people in 9 different countries since Little Man opened in 2008.
San Lucas Toliman is a rural town of mostly indigenous Mayan people on the shores of Lake Atitlan in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. The people of San Lucas Toliman experience significant economic hardship as the result of geographic isolation, as well as political and social discrimination. Hunger is common as a result of chronic poverty. The people of San Lucas Toliman are served by the local Catholic Mission, operated by the Minnesota based non-profit Friends of San Lucas. The Mission helps the community through a variety of aid and development projects focusing on housing/construction, education, healthcare, and food security. The Mission also served as home base for the Little Man team during their stay in Guatemala.
The Little Man team primarily worked with independent missionary Katie Wallyn on much needed construction projects for people living in inadequate conditions. Overseen by a local carpenter from San Lucas, the team were joined by other volunteers and missionaries from Dallas, Oklahoma City, Chicago, and California. Over the course of one week, the team was able to help build two new kitchens and an entire new home for three separate families.
Aside from the construction projects, the Little Man team took the time to identify programs and projects which they could support with Scoop for Scoop funds. Projects they ended up supporting included an elderly feeding program, food assistance to the neighboring village of Nueva Provedencia, and the San Lucas Mission itself. With the help of Deacon Pat Kearns and his wife Liz, about a dozen care packages of food were prepared and distributed by the team personally to families identified as being in great need throughout San Lucas. Additionally, funds were provided to support the construction of a new home for one of the elderly feeding program’s organizers and chef, who lives in inadequate conditions herself despite selflessly serving her community.
The trip represented a valuable opportunity for the Little Man team members to learn about the challenges, opportunities, and hardships that the people of San Lucas Toliman experience on a daily basis. By personally visiting San Lucas, the team made connections and developed relationships that will hopefully allow them to continue to support the people of San Lucas for years to come.
Like with any Little Man Scoop for Scoop donation, the ability for Little Man to do this kind of work comes out of the continuing support and loyalty of its customers. You can learn more about Scoop for Scoop and how your ice cream purchases are bringing relief from hunger for people in places like San Lucas Toliman by visiting our website at www.littlemanicecream.com/scoop-for-scoop
Check out some images from this donation below!
