By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – Anyone that has ever lived or even visited Alabama during the summer months knows that just a few minutes outside can make you feel like you’re going to melt, however, a new business on wheels has taken to the streets to help customers combat the hot weather with a variety of treats.

The Treats Truck, which launched in May, was started by Helena resident Kathy Sciarrotta after getting the idea from working at a previous business.

“I used to work for Kona Ice for a couple of years while my son was in intermediate school and I loved it,” Sciarotta said. “I loved it until I had to work football games late at night and I was getting home at one or two o’clock in the morning and it wasn’t fun. So, I quit, but I already had the food bug and my husband is a chef. I told him, let’s just go get one. We drove everywhere looking here and there for a truck but my son saw one in Tennessee that’s a newer style so I said, ‘Yeah we can make it an ice cream truck’ and we did measurements and got everything in here.”

After rigging the truck with freezers, a fridge, a radio, speakers, a service window and more the truck was ready to hit the streets.

Now Sciarotta spends her time selling treats from the truck at neighborhood pools, birthday parties, subdivisions and more.

In addition to Helena, the Treats Truck makes its way to Calera and Pelham and will soon travel to Chelsea and Hoover offering several treats from Blue Bunny Ice Cream, soft drinks, fruit, cookies, chips, veggie straws and coffee.

If a customer can’t catch the Treats Truck at a specific location, Sciarotta offers a variety of custom birthday party packages and will also offer treats at church socials, company picnics, family reunions, team parties, fundraisers and more.

The birthday party packages include the following:

–The $125 package includes a 30-piece ice cream, a goodie bag for the guest of honor, 30 minutes of dancing with party music and bubbles.

–The $150 package includes a cookies and cream party with a cookie tray, 30-piece ice cream, a goodie bag for the guest of honor, 30 minutes of dancing with party music and bubbles.

–The $175 package includes a 50-piece ice cream, a goodie bag for the guest of honor, 45 minutes of dancing with party music and bubbles.

–The $200 package includes a 30-piece ice cream, a goodie bag for the guest of honor, 60 minutes of dancing with party music and bubbles and face painting for 30 guests.

In addition to accepting cash, the Treats Truck stands out because the business accepts both PayPal and Venmo as alternate forms of payment for customers who may not carry cash.

Sciarotta and her family have lived in Helena for 13 years and said the area has become a close-knit spot as the years have passed.

“People in Helena are loyal and if they’re your neighbors or they’ve seen you or know your kids they’re not shy to text me or message me to come by and it’s where I make most of my money,” Sciarotta said. “Thank God for family, friends and word of mouth.”

Going forward, Sciarotta said she will continue to experiment to see which products sell the most and enjoy putting smiles on customer’s faces.

“I love to see the little ones and it’s their very first time,” Sciarotta said. “They get so excited and they can’t stand still and are mesmerized by the truck. I thinks it’s so precious and cute and I just enjoy pulling up and visiting and chatting with people. That’s what I like about it, just being in the community.”

For more information and updates on the Treats Truck, visit Facebook.com/Trrat5/ or email Treatstruck@yahoo.com. Sciarotta can also be reached at 937-4025.