Several fundraisers to help White Center businesses damaged by arson – KIRO 7 News Seattle

An ice cream parlor in the White Center is raising money this weekend for workers displaced by a devastating fire.

Only yesterday, officials realized that they now believe the fire was deliberately started.

But since the fire was apparently aimed at a gay bar, the question arises whether it is a hate crime.

Certainly the owners of the Lumber Yard Bar consider it a hate crime.

But no decision has been made yet.

There are signs everywhere showing how people can help so these companies and their employees can return.

The ice cream scoops for this sundae do more than just help the customers cool off this summer weekend. The proceeds will help ease the pain of a fire that has ravaged six companies at the heart of this stubborn community.

“Just being part of the community,” said Lindsay Cash, White Center Manager at Full Tilt Ice Cream, “cannot be affected. It’s awful. “

Cash has been at this Full Tilt Ice Cream store for six years. She says she’s most concerned about those whose jobs have been reduced to rubble.

“There are Go Fund Me’s for all businesses,” she said. “We really wanted to help the employees in a targeted manner. So we’ll donate some money to them. “

Initially, the investigators assumed that it was an accident. But on Friday they announced they had found evidence showing that the fire was deliberately started and The Lumber Yard, a gay bar here for only four years, was the target.

“And I couldn’t stop crying,” said Lorne Hill, a longtime resident of the White Center. “It made me so mad and mad.”

It was like a family death for regulars like Hill, who like many others thought fireworks were to blame.

She is surprised that the fire has been classified as arson. “Yes,” she said, “as much as these guys are loved.”

A measure of love for this business world is now being shown, one shovel at a time.

“I don’t like the way it goes,” said eight-year-old Elliott Lemoult-Kahn. “We need better law enforcement for something like this.”

The fundraiser has met with approval from the youngest customers of Full Tilt Ice Cream.

“That’s great,” explained Elliott.

Authorities have not yet said much about the fire, where or how it was set.

Now the suspect and the motive are searched for.

The Full Tilt Ice Cream fundraiser continues this weekend.

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