An Arizona ice cream truck owner is earning praise in Tucson for bringing affordable frozen treats to neighborhoods where many families are struggling to make ends meet.
Matthew Lenne and his fiancée, Korina Quiroga-Ramirez, run Sweet Tooth, a local ice cream truck that has become known across the community for keeping prices unusually low.
With many menu items priced between $1 and $3, the truck offers a wide selection of ice cream and snacks designed to stay within reach for children and families on tight budgets.
‘I don’t let any kid walk away without ice cream. If they can’t afford it, it comes out of my pocket,’ Lenne told Our News Outlet.
That approach has shaped Sweet Tooth’s people-first mission, with Lenne choosing to prioritize kindness and access over profit as he serves customers from all walks of life.
Lenne said the heart behind the business comes in part from difficult experiences in his own life.
He launched Sweet Tooth in February after his mother began facing serious health complications. As she moved in and out of the hospital, Lenne said he reached a low point and struggled with depression. During that period, advice his mother had given him when he was a child helped spark the idea that would eventually become the ice cream truck.
Matthew Lenne and his fiancée, Korina Quiroga-Ramirez, own Sweet Tooth, a Tucson ice cream truck known for its budget-friendly prices
Their sweet treat options come as low as $1 to $3, with an array of snacks for customers to choose from
‘My mom raised me to break bread with my friends and my community. She taught me that kindness repays kindness,’ Lenne said.
He recalled fond memories of eating ice cream and how it always cheered him up.
Lenne said he knows what it’s like supporting a big family and how expensive it can be as he raised six of his own children.
‘Buying ice cream and candy for my six kids from an ice cream truck cost $58,’ he said. ‘It shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy ice cream.’
With support from his fiancé, they partner with other organizations such as Barrio Restoration who volunteered to beautify neglected spaces in Southside Tucson. As they created a safe and clean environment for residents, Lenne handed out free popsicles to volunteers around the neighborhood.
He also worked closely with Para Todos, an organization that hosts all-inclusive monthly birthday parties for kids.
On Sunday, Lenne stopped by the August party hosted by Amore for Medically Complex Families.
Krystina Diaz, the founder, told KGUN News that their partnership reflects a shared commitment to the community.
His business supported a people over profit motto that supplied treats to customers no matter where they come from
Lenne has shared how him and his community have experienced a lot of hardship recently but giving back to Tucson is what inspired him to keep moving forward
‘It’s really nice when you get to collaborate with people who have the same vision as you and they just want to help the kids and make memories and just lasting things they can talk about later,’ Diaz told the outlet.
Lenne said the best reward he can receive is seeing people walk away with a smile.
‘Because at the end of the day it’s about helping your community. I know if I’m struggling then there’s other people out there, other big families struggling the same way too,’ he added.
Lenne has shared how him and his community have experienced a lot of hardship recently but giving back to Tucson is what inspired him to keep moving forward.
‘You don’t see a lot of kindness today. When you’re good to your friends that builds relationships,’ he said.
When he was in a time of need his community tried to repay his kindness and give back to the business as much as possible.
In a recent setback, Lenne needed to buy a new generator to keep the ice cream truck up and running.
K. Alexandra Monaco, a community member, started a GoFundMe fundraiser in support as he navigated the unexpected expense.
The message in the description said: ‘We are so grateful for their donations of time and goods, and now it is our turn to help them get back on track and remind them that Tucson cares too.’
One Facebook user commented: ‘This selfless soul pours himself out onto this community EVERY SINGLE DAY, and truth be known, gives away most of his profits. Please support his gofundme with ANYTHING you can spare. It may mean that the next child he meets gets their first ice cream.’
Lenne shared how much the kind gesture from his community meant to him.
‘The gesture was monumental. As a low-cost business, we don’t make a lot of profit. It’s not about the money. It’s about helping people.’
