Ice Cream Anyone?

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Allentown - Hershey's Ice Cream Booth

Hershey Ice Cream booths, located at three Pennsylvania Turnpike Service Plazas, are attractive and popular, inviting customers to stop and sit awhile, take a rest from their highway travel and enjoy a refreshing snack. The little shops also exemplify the concept of "partnering," that is, a cooperative effort of various parties all working toward a common goal that when achieved will provide benefits to all.

The endeavor began last year, when Rick Conrad, district general manager for Host Marriott Services Group, saw the log sided structure while visiting the Home Builders Show in Harrisburg. "I was impressed," he said. "The structure was built by

carpentry students attending the Cumberland Perry Vocational Technical School. The building was sturdy and attractive. I knew it would be perfect for our Hershey Ice Cream sales at several of our Marriott-operated Turnpike service plazas. I told Hershey Creamery about the building and the company then took the lead."

Hershey Ice Cream contacted the school and submitted a bid. It was accepted and the booth was relocated to the Turnpike’s Allentown Service Plaza. At the same time, Hershey placed an order for construction of a second building that upon completion was placed at the Turnpike’s South Midway Service Plaza location.

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L-R: Teacher, Jody Snider with students,
Ryan Knaub & Scott Baum.

Both sites have been very successful," Conrad said. "Demonstrating the success of this initiative," Conrad said, "the ice cream booths respond to the growing traffic volumes we’ve experienced at the service plazas. People who want an ice cream treat no longer have to wait in long lines. Once they get their ice cream, they can sit and relax on the shaded patio and enjoy a quality product…a Pennsylvania product. And just as important, the students who built the booth can take pride and satisfaction knowing that they contributed to a Pennsylvania business."

Tom Holder, Vice President of Sales for Hershey Creamery Co. Inc. (no affiliation with Hershey Foods) said, "the project has been a positive and satisfying experience for everyone. It’s been great for the kids who can be proud of building a strong and solid building. It’s been good for

Hershey Ice Cream and Marriott Corporation. And it helps with public relations for the Turnpike."

Cumberland Perry VoTech teacher Jody Snider has led the effort, providing leadership and motivation for about forty students who are enrolled in two carpentry classes at the school. Designed by the high schoolers, the booth is composed of an enclosed portion, 12 by 20 feet, while the patio with overhang is 12 by 16 feet. The inside of the building, with three service windows, has enough room for ice cream freezers, soda machines and storage space. The carpentry students, along with those enrolled in the ECM class, (Electric, Construction and Maintenance) completely finish the building with tile flooring and all the necessary electricity and plumbing.

"We view this project with Hershey Ice Cream, as a business partnership," Snider said. "Both sides win. The kids get to build a practical and useful project. They learn and gain valuable experience. And Hershey gets the building a lower cost. Snider and his young builders plan to transport the newly constructed ice cream booth which was displayed at this year’s Home Builders Show, to the Turnpike’s Sideling Hill Service Plaza sometime this spring.

With the sprawling and beautiful Allegheny Mountains serving as a backdrop, Turnpike travelers stopping at Sideling Hill this summer season, will now have the opportunity to enjoy the view while relaxing on the Hershey Ice Cream patio and relishing a cool and tasty ice cream treat.

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Students raising the roof for the new Hershey's
Ice Cream booth for Sideling Hill.