EMT-Owned 'Ice Cream Emergency' Brings Sweets To Jersey Shore

STAFFORD, NJ — On a hot and sunny summer day, a lack of ice cream can truly be considered an emergency. But the new ice cream catering bus, Ice Cream Emergency, is here to fix that.

The name fits the owners - lifelong Ocean County residents Ali and Joe Giberson are first responders. Ali, a native of Toms River, volunteers with the Stafford Township First Aid Squad. Joe, who grew up in the Cedar Run neighborhood of Stafford where the family currently lives, is a paramedic supervisor with Robert Wood Johnson and has been in EMS for 30 years. He is also a life member and past captain of the Stafford Township First Aid Squad. Their oldest daughter, Maddy, is an EMT with the first aid squad, while the younger children, Mackenzie and Henry, help set up and clean up CPR classes.

"We love that this is truly family owned and operated," Ali told Patch. "We are working alongside our children and each other."

So what is Ice Cream Emergency? It's a wholly unique experience, Ali said.

"Ice Cream Emergency is not an ice cream truck, it's also not an ice cream shop," she said.

It's ice cream catering, Ali said. Customers choose any of five packages for their guests. When guests step onto the bus, they're greeted by "Scoopologists" dressed in red scrubs and wearing stethoscopes. Music plays and the bus itself is brightly decorated. Guests sign a "Doctor's Chart" for the host to keep as a souvenir.

"We create sundaes and memories together," Ali said.

The most popular package, she said, is the super sundae - two mega scoops of ice cream ,lots of sweet and crunchy toppings, syrups, hot fudge, whipped cream and of course, a cherry on top.

And guests can choose any many toppings as they wish.

"Even the adults feel like a kid in the candy store when they hear they don't have to limit their selections," Ali said. "We are truly a full service ice cream parlor on wheels!"

It's a totally different experience from the typical, predictable ice cream truck visit. Their coverage area spans from Brick all the way down to Tuckerton and even into Atlantic City.

"When we saw the Ice Cream Emergency Franchise, it was so completely different from any ice cream experience we have ever had. We fell in love with the concept and the theme," Ali said.

They cater everything from weddings and birthday parties to back to school events and employee appreciation days.

The family loves getting to work together, singing and dancing on the bus between customers and having the kids learn good work ethic and lots of new skills.

"It's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun," Ali said.

Learn more about Ice Cream Emergency here.