James Karagiannis is no ordinary ice cream man. Instead of driving a truck, he travels around Buffalo, New York on a bike. And instead of turning away kids who can't afford his $1 ice creams, he gives them away for free.
The only catch: Each child has to do something positive to earn their ice cream - like answer a history or math question or pick up litter, the Buffalo News Reports. Karagiannis, 36, has become a community fixture since he set up shop in 2007. He's even picked up the fitting nickname "The Ice Creamcycle Dude."
His latest project is teaching Buffalo kids a brand new lesson: The importance of saying thanks.
City residents began to give small cash donations to Karagiannis to help increase his distribution of free ice cream. There was so much interest in donating he decided to formalize a fund raising campaign online. And now, in exchange for each treat, he asks each kid to write a thank you note postcard to one of the donors.
At first, Karagiannis hoped to raised $500. But the story spread quickly, and, as of last night, dozens of donors have contributed close to $6,000.
"I don't like the idea of just giving something away to a kid without at least trying to teach a lesson," he wrote recently on Facebook. "We're in these neighborhoods everyday and are a part of these kids lives, therefore we have the responsibility to be positive role models."
You can donate ice cream to Karagiannis' adorable customers right here.