LAWRENCE, Ind. — This is a story about smiles. It's something they've been doing for awhile, and it's gone so well, they've made smiles their business.
"Our nonprofit is called Maddie Smiles. We started that after my daughter passed away," said Paula Strauss. and her daughter, Lacy, in 2021 as they spread smiles across Lawrence with their trailer full of frozen treats.Maddie was born with special needs and died at 19 after complications from surgery.Maddie was known as"Moo" and her sister Lacy,"Lou." And it didn't take long for Moo and Lou's to really take off. So much so that three years later, they've traded the truck and trailer for brick and mortar.
"Feels like a dream a little bit," Lacy said."Never really thought we'd be running an ice cream shop.""When people come in the door, they're like 'whoa'" Paula said."We're really just honoring my sister's legacy and spread her smile and that's thru frozen treats and an uplifting atmosphere," said Lacy."I had no idea this was in our future," said Dave Strauss.
And the trailer isn't always parked. They still take it out from time to time. They also give out free treats to police, firefighters and others in the community every year in honor of Maddie.WTHR would like to send you push notifications about the latest news and weather.