At HAWKINS, some of our favorite moments are the simple ones—like gathering on a warm summer afternoon for a scoop of ice cream with the people we work alongside every day. This week, ahead of our all-employee meeting, we had the joy of welcoming the Belong Co. Ice Cream Cart to our office, and it made the day that much sweeter.
But what makes Belong Co. truly special isn’t just the ice cream (though it’s delicious). It’s the mission behind every scoop.
Belong Co. is a Boise-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates social and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities in the Treasure Valley. Their mobile ice cream cart is operated and run by individuals with disabilities, and every dollar of profit goes right back into fueling their mission—funding employment programs and free community social events that help people connect, grow, and belong. From their ice cream cart to their mobile coffee bar, Belong Co. is proof that a small business can make a big difference.
Watching their team serve our employees with such pride, skill, and genuine warmth was a highlight of our week. There were plenty of smiles on both sides of the cart.
For 50 years, HAWKINS has believed that our success is measured by more than the properties we develop—it’s measured by the strength of the communities we help build. Supporting organizations like Belong Co. is one of the ways we live out that belief. When we invest in local nonprofits and inclusive businesses, we’re investing in a community where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, to be seen, and to belong. That’s a return on integrity we’ll take every time.
If you’re looking for a way to make your next event memorable—and meaningful—we can’t recommend Belong Co. enough. Visit belongco.org to learn more about their mission, book their ice cream or coffee cart, or find one of their community pop-ups around the Treasure Valley.
Thank you, Belong Co., for bringing your sweetness—and your purpose—to HAWKINS. We can’t wait to have you back.