May 8, 2022
Texas Wesleyan University nurse anesthesiology student Erin Rains, 28, enjoyed a popsicle after an exam on May 5.
“If they can do it after every exam, that’d be great,” Rains said. “It makes it a little bit better if you didn’t do great.”
Rains is not looking forward to finals week because of how rigorous her program is, she said.
The supplier — Frios Gourmet Pops — sat parked right outside of the Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia building, 1000 Wesleyan St. It provided students with pick-me-ups after exams.
Leesa Wolf, the co-owner of the Fort Worth’s Frios Gourmet Pops truck, focused on bringing smiles to the students’ faces.
Happiness Hustlers, or Frios Gourmet Pops employees, take pride in making people smile. People cannot look at the colorful van and not smile, Wolf said. If customers aren’t smiling when they walk up, she makes it her mission to see a smile before they go.
“That’s why I became a nurse. I always like to make people smile and feel better. And so that’s why I picked Frios because it’s the same — their vision and their motto is all about smiles and happiness,” Wolf said. “You’re seeing people that need to be cheered up sometimes. You’re not just selling happiness on a stick.”
The Fort Worth Frios Gourmet Pops truck began operating in May 2021. Wolf works as a nurse two days a week, but enjoys the freedom of not working 12-hour shifts daily.
“I can’t do 12-hour shifts with my son — he’s five. And my husband travels for work,” Wolf said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business and franchises make it a little bit easier than starting from scratch.”
Wolf and her husband, Eric Wolf, a U.S. Army veteran, purchased a Frios franchise after her cousin bought a dozen pops from an Aledo location. They loved them — all 12 popsicles were gone in five minutes.
The truck sells gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and even pawsicles — frozen treats for dogs.
Nurse Anesthesia Program Director Terri Kane booked Frios Gourmet Pops. A couple of years ago, Kane tried to bring an ice cream truck to campus, but COVID-19 hindered attendance. She wanted to try again.
“It didn’t work out really well but the few people that stayed and tried it seemed to have fun just kind of sitting around, relaxing and blowing off steam,” Kane said. “They’re at the program 60 to 70 hours a week, so they don’t have a lot of time for fun, and just to get to know each other. It seemed like a nice relationship kind of thing.”
Read the full article and see all the pictures here.