Free Offer Can’t Be Licked--or Can It?

Nearly 100 people waiting patiently in line Friday at the Irvine Spectrum shopping center were not there for the latest box-office smash at the nearby 21-screen theater complex.

They wanted ice cream.

And they were willing to wait in line because the ice cream was free. It was Ben & Jerry’s annual “free scoop day” at the company’s 120 stores nationwide to raise money for charities and commemorate the founding of the business 18 years ago in Burlington, Vt.

In return for the free ice cream, Orange County customers were encouraged to leave donations for the Orangewood Children’s Home, the county’s emergency shelter for abused, severely neglected and abandoned children.

“I know that the Orangewood Home is a good cause, so with free ice cream how can you lose?” said Placentia high school teacher Lloyd Porter, who brought seven members of his family to the Irvine Spectrum store.

It was also a lucky break for YMCA counselor Lilia Vollaire, who helped guide her eager young day-care students through the ice cream store.

“We ate lunch here and some of the kids saw the sign, but we didn’t believe them,” Vollaire said. “After the movie we came back. Now we believe them.”

Rob Davidson, manager of the company’s two Irvine stores, said he stocked hundreds of extra gallons for the giveaway. He had to call in his mother to help with scooping duties. He also tried to enlist his grandmother, but she was busy.

“We’re just slammed,” Davidson said.