Businesses come together to keep Allee Scoop open and break-in free

Allee Scoop was first introduced to the Lakeland in May of 2021 by 13-year-old Allee Kirkendall. Her ice cream shack brought a little more life to the Lakeland, but Allee Scoop has had a rough two years dealing with six break-ins. 

Joe Herle, a father and employee for MPI Oilfield had overheard the troubles happening with Kirkendall’s business when picking up his daughter from cheerleading who cheers with Kirkendall. 

“My daughter cheers with Allee, so I get to hear the trouble with the break-ins, and I thought you know what enough is enough,” said Joe Herle. 

“I heard her talking about not knowing if she could even open up her ice cream shack this summer, so I wanted to help.”

Herle got sponsors together to redo Allee Scoop adding a steel cover on the doors of the shack to prevent the doors from being ripped off, re-painting, new hinges, and installing and welding it all together. 

MRC, Vallen, Napa, and MPI were up for the task in providing steel, hinges, paint, welding, and installation of this project within a couple of days. 

“I felt bad for her and just sad to see someone so young having such a hard time keeping a small business up and running, it just wasn’t fair,” said Herle. 

Allee Scoop opened on May 21, and has been break in free.

Background

The first act of vandalism happened in June of 2021 just a month after Kirkendall opened her doors, with their ice cream cooler being purposely unplugged and hooks stolen from their doors. 

The next break in occurred in February then again in March where the shack doors were ripped from the hinges. 

In September and October the same occurrence even had their payment system and an iPad stolen, even breaking the window. 

The most recent break in happened in April of this year and again doors ripped off the hinges.  

The shack is looking brand new again and will continue to bring happiness and the Bonnyville community together.