Family Gateway Campers Welcomed Home With A Coffee Can Ice Cream Party

In every life, there are hurdles to leap over. Sometimes a little assistance is all that is needed. Perhaps it’s a coach or a trainer. In too many cases it’s a group like Family Gateway that is needed for those really big leaps of life for homeless families.

For 47 kiddos, it was indeed Family Gateway. On Saturday, July 26, these children returned from a week at Kids Across America Camp in Missouri. There they got to participate “in competitive and specialty sports, rope courses and leadership training that they would not normally experience in their daily existence.”

Bo Miltenberger, Paula Miltenberger and Brady Miltenberger

The getaway for the youngsters was made possible thanks to the generosity of JLB Partners’ Paul and Bay Miltenberger, Compatriot Group and Sammons Enterprises.

And like most campers, they brought home dirty laundry, tales of adventures and new BFF’s.

Amber Jefferson

But in addition to doting parents and siblings, the campers were welcomed home with an ice cream social at Family Gateway hosted by Streetspeaker Radio’s Amber Jefferson, who has first-hand appreciation for Family Gateway. It seems that Family Gateway helped Amber’s sister get back on her feet.This hearty party was Amber’s way of repaying Family Gateway and giving “the children a ‘warm’ welcome back to Dallas.”

According to Amber, “In the 1980’s President Ronald Reagan designated July as ‘National Ice Cream Month’ and we think it is appropriate since temperatures are expected to reach the 100+ mark this weekend.”

With duffel bags and stuffed animals lining the hallways, the campers in their green T-shirts partied in the dining room. With Amber leading the way, some kids rolled the cans of ice cream into perfection, while others tried shaking them. Shouts of “Shake it! Shake it!” were heard throughout the room, as the majority of the kids opted to shake instead of roll the towel-wrapped cans.

Bamaien Dozier

On the sidelines, parents watched in amazement at the energy level in the room. There was a hope that all this activity would result in a sound sleep that night.

Michael Angelo Maldonado

Antoinee Perkins

As for little brothers like Michael Angelo Maldonado, they seemed a little baffled by all the commotion. With her beaded hair and freshly painted face, Antoinee Perkins hardly noticed the antics in the room.

Eventually ice cream was served up with Compatriot’s Paul Rowsey serving a spoonful of the icy stuff to new buddies like “Isaiah“.

Isaiah and Paul Rowsey

BTW, ice cream loving and making aren’t limited to July. If you’re running out of things to do with the kids, why not try making coffee can ice cream? Interested? Follow the jump and check out the recipe.

What you’ll need

• 1 pint of half-and-half
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons of your favorite instant pudding mix
• 10 cups of ice
• 1½ cup of rock salt (kosher salt or sea salt can be used, too)
• 3 lb. coffee can, emptied and rinsed
• 1 lb. coffee can, emptied and rinsed
• Duct tape
• Large towel
• Large rubber band
• Rubber spatula

Instructions

1. Add half-and-half, sugar and pudding mix to the 1 lb. coffee can and mix well.
2. Cover the 1 lb. can with its corresponding lid and seal with duct tape.
3. Place 1 lb. coffee can inside the 3 lb. coffee can. Surround the smaller can with ice and salt by layering 5 cups of ice with ¾ cup of salt.
4. Use duct tape to seal the 3 lb. can with its corresponding lid. Then wrap the 3 lb. can in the large towel securing it with the rubber band.
5. Roll the can back and forth on its side for 8 to 10 minutes.
6. After 10 minutes, open the cans and remove the smaller can to check the ice cream. The mixture on the sides of the smaller can will set up faster than the center. Use a rubber spatula to quickly scrape down the sides and give the ice cream one stir.
7. Reseal the lid on the smaller can with duct tape, and set it aside.
8. Quickly dump the melted ice water from the large can.
9. Repeat step #3 using the remaining ice and salt.
10. Repeat step #4.
11. Roll the large can for 5 to 7 minutes more.
12. Then open the cans again and CHILL in the freezer still stiff.
13. Get a spoon and enjoy.