Gelato State Fair Stand Donates Half Of Proceeds To Feed Hungry Families

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - There are plenty of choices when it comes to sweet treats at the California State Fair, but one group of brothers is taking a unique approach to stand out from the crowd.

"All the girls are like, 'the gelato guys, the gelato guys.' You hear about them as soon as you step on the fairgrounds," said one woman.

The Colossal Gelato stand sits near Building B. But believe it or not, owner Branden Holguin says their family business isn't about selling gelato.

"Not to just make money to line my pockets and make me fat, dumb, and happy, but to actually give back that actually helps people," he said.

While 50 percent of profits go back into the business, the other 50 percent goes to charities including Feed My Starving Children.

"It's massively amazing," said employee Mary Barb.

Barb says she spotted the stand at the El Dorado County Fair, and now commutes an hour each way to the state fair for work.

"Every time I get to sell something that means I get to feed children and families," said Barb.

A bag of food is on display in the window.

"It's 25 cents and feeds a family of four," said Barb.

It helps to explain their mission.

"It makes it easier to show up to work. You know what you're doing is actually going to something bigger than just making gelato," said Holguin.

They call it working to give, and they've raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since launching their business five years ago.

"Sometimes we pull 12 to 14 hour shifts and sometimes it can get long; and if it were just for making money then it would be really hard, but that it gives back to the community it makes it worth it for sure," said employee Calvin Lockerby.

The brothers say they learned how to make gelato from the masters in Italy.