Fundraisers by individuals, businesses and verified GoFundMe campaigns have been gathering donations in the aftermath of the Jan. 21 mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park in the midst of Lunar New Year celebrations.
Geoff Jennings, the owner of Nomad Ice Pops in San Gabriel posted on Facebook that the shop was donating 100% of sales on Jan. 22 and 20% of sales during the following nine days to buoy relief funds for the victims.
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It was a very cold day after the shooting, Jennings said, but people came specifically for the Jan. 22 fundraiser. He said he did hear people say, “hey, thanks for doing this.”
Jennings noted that some injured victims may be facing huge hospital bills as a result of the shooting and that emotional scars can last forever.
“When it strikes so close to home, I wanted to do what little we could do to help,” said Jennings, who had attended previous Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park.
“There’s not a lot we can do but we wanted to do something for the community,” said the Alhambra resident. “We hope other people will do what they can.”
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Jennings, on Feb. 1, said that patrons donated donated about $500 during the fundraising.
The shop has been involved with other fundraisers over the years including at schools. The shop also does a fundraiser every June that earmarks donations for LGBTQ homeless teens.
Other Monterey Park shooting fundraisers are under way to help support people and families affected by the shooting continue, including on Feb. 4 at 18 participating McDonald’s restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles.
Nomad Ice Pops, at 415 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, is a 100% gluten-free facility and offers dairy-free and nut-free options. Winter hours: 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 626-872-5757. www.facebook.com/NomadIcePops