NASHVILLE, Mich. — On another 90-degree day, MOO-ville Creamery is understandably busy. After all, who could resist a cold treat on such a hot day?
"We've already made almost 8,000 gallons of ice cream this week. If you can't sell ice cream in June, you're doing something wrong," said Troy Westendorp, who serves as the ice cream production manager at MOO-ville.
For the last month, one flavor has been all the rage at MOO-ville. It's called "Go For Gold," and it's made with chocolate ice cream, Butterfinger pieces, and a golden caramel swirl. Westendorp says the ice cream is tasty, but perhaps more important than the flavor is its mission. Go For Gold is the official ice cream flavor of Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI).
"When the Special Olympics approached us with this idea, we thought it was an all brainer. We loved the idea," he said. "We're donating a percentage of every tub that we sell back to Special Olympics. We're selling it wholesale as well, so you can find it at shops all across West Michigan."
MOO-ville will be holding a celebration for the new flavor on Saturday, June 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Nashville location. Ahead of that event, SOMI's chief officer of strategic growth, Jennifer VanSkiver, stopped by the store to try Go For Gold for herself.
"I have to tell you, it was amazing. It was so tasty. We're actually going back in to get more," said VanSkiver, who noted that this partnership is part of SOMI's 50th anniversary celebration for their summer games.
"It takes amazing people to support a movement this large and this important, and to do something like this for our athletes, really makes us feel special. We're very, very grateful for this kind of support."
VanSkiver is also the mother of a Special Olympics athlete. So she knows first hand how important their programming is.
"It is the community rising up to include - making our athletes feel seen, feel heard, feel special. That's what it's about - inclusion. Our athletes really strive every day, whether it's on the court or off the court, to find their place in community, and it's the most beautiful thing in the world to see the community rise up to meet them," she said.
Westendorp says MOO-ville is proud to be able to help organizations like SOMI.
"Everyone has a has a need, and everybody has a spot where they can be successful in this world. So for us to have just a little bit of an impact in somebody's life like that, I think it says a lot for who we are and what we stand for. We hope for much success for the flavor, and I think that it's a great combination with us and and the Special Olympics," he said.
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