Ice Cream Man

Ice Cream Social at the Children's Hospital of Orange County

Words by James Boo
Photos by James Boo

While we were at SXSW, we had the chance to visit Dell Children’s Medical Center, the first children’s hospital on the charity leg of our 2008 national tour. Our second stop was a bit closer to home: On May 9, Gooch and I paid a visit to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), delivering around 700 free ice creams to patients, staff and family members.

The ice cream social at CHOC was coordinated as a part of Nurse Appreciation Week, an annual celebration of the invaluable care rendered by nurses in hospitals and clinics across America. By the time the Bessie pulled up to the hospital entrance, a line of nurses, doctors, patients and pretty much every other kind of person in the hospital had formed in anticipation.

The event started off under grey skies, but we ended up giving away ice cream for almost two hours, including special “to go” boxes of treats for patients and staff who were unable to come down to pay a visit to the ice cream truck. By the end of the social, the sun was shining, and chocolate éclair bars were nowhere to be seen.

Thanks to Emily Grankowski for coordinating the event, Nancy Cooper for shooting photos on behalf of CHOC, Gooch for commandeering Bessie for the occasion, and especially to all the staff members who make the hospital run and made our visit a great day for ice cream!