Several fundraisers to help White Center businesses damaged by arson

A White Center ice cream shop is raising money this weekend for workers displaced by a devastating fire.

Just yesterday, officials determined they now believe the fire was intentionally set.

But since the fire seems to have been targeted a gay bar, there is the issue of whether this is a hate crime.

Certainly, the people who own The Lumber Yard Bar think it is a hate crime.

But no decision has been made about that just yet.

There are signs everywhere that show how people can help so these businesses and their employees can come back.

The scoops of ice cream for this sundae are doing more this summer weekend than helping customers cool off. Proceeds will help ease the pain of a fire that devastated six businesses in the heart of this hardscrabble community.

“Just being part of the community,” said Lindsay Cash, Full Tilt Ice Cream’s White Center manager, “you can’t not be affected. It’s horrible.”

Cash has been at this Full Tilt Ice Cream store for six years. She says she worries most for those whose workplaces were reduced to ash and rubble.

“There’s Go Fund Me’s for all the businesses,” she said. “We really wanted to specifically help the employees. So, we’re going to donate some money to them.”

Initially, investigators believed the fire was accidental. But Friday, they revealed they found evidence that shows the fire was intentionally set and The Lumber Yard, a gay bar here for just four years, was the target.

“And I couldn’t quit crying,” said Lorne Hill, a long-time White Center resident. “It made me so angry and so furious.”

It has been like a death in the family for regulars, like Hill, who, with many others, thought fireworks were to blame.

She is surprised the fire was ruled an arson. “Yes,” she said, “with as much as these guys are loved.”

A measure of the love for this business community is now being shown, one scoop at a time.

“I don’t like how that’s going one,” said 8-year-old Elliott Lemoult-Kahn. “We need better law enforcement for that kind of thing.”

The fundraiser is meeting with approval from Full Tilt Ice Cream’s youngest customers.

“That’s great,” declared Elliott.

The authorities still have not said much about the fire, where or how it was set.

The search is on now for the suspect and the motive.

Full Tilt Ice Cream’s fundraiser continues through the weekend.

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