Yesterday was Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s so I took my mother down to their local scoop shop at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. There I discovered from store manager Tricia that it’s more than just a show of customer appreciation, it’s a movement to make poverty history.

Not to be out done, today is 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins. Participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents to help honor America’s firefighters. At some locations, you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to your local fire charities. FWIW, when I was a teenager, my first job was scooping ice cream at the B&R in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Blvd.