CHESTERVILLE — The Frosty Paw is making a long held dream become reality for Mary Hastings while providing learning opportunities for her children.

“I have talked about this for a decade,” she said May 31. “I work in public service. My husband and I, we are both police officers – that is how we met. We work with a lot of people, see a lot of people on their worst day and a lot of people aren’t happy.

“I was an advocate. It always felt like it was a lose-lose situation. I used to joke about the best job in the world would be an ice cream truck driver. That everywhere you went they would love to see you, be happy. You would bring them joy, provide them with ice cream.

“So it really started as my dream job. It has grown to be so much more than that.

“My children have a summer job. Really the only way for them to have an opportunity to work is through a family business, family farm or something similar.”

Mary Hastings said her husband, Edward Hastings IV is a “make it happen guy!” He is the one that was like, “we can do this” and we bid on a little Maine mass transit authority bus. They had many, many on an online auction. We actually ended up with two because we were new to the online bidding business. That was our first learning curve.

“We are not going to have a rigid schedule of ‘this is our route on this day.’ I still work fulltime so this is very much an after hours gig when the kids are up for it. If they are not, if they have swimming, have friends to play with, an invitation to do something fun, they are still kids. I want them to still do that stuff.”

Hastings said she is balancing school and sports with operating the truck since her children are active in lacrosse and gymnastics. They have been asked to be at a family reunion at the end of summer, but will have to wait to see when the first day of school is before deciding, she noted.

“We are figuring this out as we go,” Hastings said. “This is going to be a work in progress for all of us. I wanted the kids to learn how to be young entrepreneurs, to learn how to work with people, be confident with money and making change, and interacting with the public.”

Hastings said she is learning a lot too – about economics and other things.

“After purchasing the truck it was just brainstorming with the family about what we would call it, where we would go, what we would sell and do,” she said. “We go out for ice cream on a semi-regular basis and it costs a small fortune for a family of four, so it was important for us to keep the prices really low.

“A family of five can all get an ice cream for $5. We have many $1 or $2 items and a few $3 items.”

A retail license to resell items has been obtained from the state. The Hastings also have a mobile vendor permit and were inspected by the state the end of May.

Supplies are purchased through several local companies and larger stores, Hastings said. Becoming a wholesale club member at BJ’s is being considered, she noted.

The Frosty Paw has permission to operate in Farmington, Wilton, Chesterville, Livermore Falls, Jay and Leeds. Hastings said she is considering expanding to a few other places such as Livermore – they have public beaches and parks, Industry and Fayette. People have asked her to come to Strong, Kingfield and other locations.

“I think we already have a bigger area than we could regularly serve,” Hastings said. “We are trying to keep it close to home with gas prices what they are. Our focus I think will be events – they will be easiest. But it is fun to see people’s faces when an ice cream truck drives around with the music playing so we will try to do a little bit of that too.”

Memorial Day evening was The Frosty Paw’s maiden voyage, she noted. “We did Chesterville, Farmington and practiced playing the music and pulling over.

“The kids did outstanding running the cash register, listening to what people wanted, asking questions for clarification and counting back change. They said they had a lot of fun, so that was a successful first run.”

“Chesterville is hard as far as driving around goes,” Hastings said. “It is rural, people are spread pretty far apart.”

The Frosty Paw is not a get rich quick scheme, she noted. Half of the proceeds from that first night out went back into gas, she said. “What we didn’t do is sit in front of the television or play on our phones or waste a beautiful day. We were out in our community spreading joy, giving out smiles and ice cream. It was awesome all around.”

The Frosty Paw Facebook page will let folks know when the truck will be out and where.

“The biggest lesson that I would like to pass on to my children is that if you can dream it, you can do it,” Hastings said. “We live in a world where anything is possible. I hope when they grow up that they talk about their mom and her enthusiasm, that mom really believed when you set your mind to something you can do it.

“I hope they believe that, that they will pass it on and spread it throughout the world. So many people are like, ‘You have been talking about this for a long time and holy smokes, you really did it!'”

On Memorial Day a retiree swapped contact information with Hastings after talking about nostalgia and the ice cream trucks of her childhood. Tuesday morning she texted, “I am so impressed with you as a role model for your children nurturing early entrepreneurship skills. My hat is off to you as a mother. It is just what our community needs in these challenging times.”

“I feel that that is the big picture, inspiring everybody, my children, the community and what a big difference a little ice cream truck can make,” Hastings said. “We just want to spread joy.”

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