The Canton Bruster’s, owned by Rocky and Subhash Gupta, and Jim Piekarski, served free waffle cones and sundaes to the staff and volunteers working to build the dream home for the Tipton-Smith family. In addition to serving the cool treats during the makeover, Bruster’s surprised the Tipton-Smith’s with a one-year supply of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.

“Bruster’s was extremely honored to be a part of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and to make the Tipton-Smith home makeover a reality,” says Kim Piper, vice president of marketing for Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. “Part of our mission is to be involved in the communities where store owners live and work. We are especially pleased that we were invited to support the volunteers, bring some happiness to the Tipton-Smith family, and treat them all to some of our favorite flavors.”

Faith Tipton-Smith and her children, Emily Smith, 8, and Missy Tipton, 16, were chosen for the show because the family had experienced a number of setbacks in recent years after their home was destroyed by fire in February 2005, and the loss of the family’s only son, Ransom, a few months later.

Bruster’s was asked to participate on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project at the nomination of Marty Buchman, a Bruster’s franchisee with a store in Destin, Florida. Buchman learned of the project from his father, Bill Buchman, whose mold remediation company, Serum System, was already asked to participate.

Marty, who was there all five days helping to scoop ice cream for the crew, says, “It’s amazing how nice it feels in your heart to do something good for a family in need. The memory of what we did for them will always be with me.”