APPLETON (NBC 26) — An Appleton ice cream shop is getting ready for a mission trip to Mexico this week.
Meet Hugo Ramirez, a man of humble beginnings.
“I’m originally from Delicias, Chihuahua that’s my hometown", Ramirez said.
Ramirez owns Frio Mexican Treats, an ice cream shop in Appleton or as the owner calls it, 'una Neveria Mexicana', serving authentic Mexican ice cream.
“One of the best memories every child from Mexico has is going to the Plaza with their parents to get ice cream”, Ramirez said.
But that's not the only reason why he opened this shop two and a half years ago.
“One of the rewards of starting a small business is being able to give back to my community", Ramirez.
The owner of the business said they will be gone from January 30 through February 14th for charity work.
He said the mission trip is to help the small village in Chihuahua, Mexico.
“In those parts they don’t have light, electricity or anything. Just started buying stuff, get some kids 20, 30 kids stuff, sometimes they’re orphans,” Ramirez said.
He hopes with these efforts they can assist those less fortunate and even brighten some children’s lives by bringing them toys.
“There is one thing my grandpa used to say, about the person who wants to help or give, and it doesn’t have to be a lot. Just the meaning by itself, even giving a little bit. The action is what it means”, Ramirez said.
But things haven’t been easy for him either.
While he also had challenges through the pandemic, he says he still made the effort to give back one way or another.
“Started putting like 35 dollars a side and before you know it I realized I had enough money to buy 20 to 30 grocery bags", Ramirez said.
Ramirez not only does his yearly mission trip to Mexico, but he says he's also very active with organizations in the Appleton community.
He says any way he can help to give back, he will.
But as for this trip to Mexico, the owner says he will definitely be taking health precautions as he will make sure to test negative for Covid-19 when he arrives to Mexico and when he is back in the U.S.
He is taking the extended time off to quarantine back in Wisconsin.
