NAVASOTA, Texas — Last month, we introduced you to 72-year-old Martin Price, who was nearly forced to shut down his ice cream shop in Navasota after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power and melted his entire shipment of ice cream.
Then, his friend, Kristie Mata, launched a GoFundMe that raised $3,000 that he needed to replace what he lost. That GoFundMe went on to raise more than $5,000, but it didn't stop there.
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When Martin's Sweet Shop reopened, an influx of customers from the Houston area showed up hungry to help. They bought scoops of the sweet stuff and also donated money to help keep the shop up and running.
Mata said Martin even got a call from a nurse in San Francisco who saw the story and donated $1,000 from her unit.
On Wednesday, Mata said they got a message of support from someone who saw the story in Argentina.
Mr. Martin's career began 55 years ago more than 1,600 miles away.
"I started with a backpack on my back on Coney Island on the beach," Mr. Martin said.
He opened an ice cream shop in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, but, he eventually left the lights of the big city for the quiet roads of Navasota nearly a decade ago to open up the only ice cream shop in town.
"I love to see the kids happy," he said.
His days of creating smiles in the community he now loves almost came to a screeching and painful halt recently when Hurricane Beryl tore through Southeast Texas.
The storm knocked out power to downtown Navasota for two days, melting the entire shipment of ice cream he had just received.
"When I got here Tuesday morning and saw what I lost, it was a lot," he said.
In all, it came out to be about a $3,000 loss. He said he reached out to his supplier but was told they don't replace ice cream due to Mother Nature.
Mata started a GoFundMe account for him with hopes that the community would help him recoup his losses in exchange for all the scoops and smiles he provided over the years.
And they did, and in a major way.