SAN MARCOS, Texas — People in San Marcos are still working to heal and recover more than two weeks after a deadly apartment fire. The city is also working to raise money for those affected.
Flames destroyed more than 100 units at the Iconic Village apartments, displacing hundreds and killing five people.
One of those was Haley Frizzell.
“She was so cool, literally so warm, literally just lit up the room,” said Texas State student Lauren Pacheco.
"She was really, really, truly, easily one of the sweetest employees we had,” said Kimmie Ly.
Ly is the manager at Icy Rolls ice cream shop in San Marcos. Frizzell worked there for almost two months before passing away.
"I told her, 'Haley, there's something so warm and sweet about you, like, what is it? I can't pinpoint what it is, but there's just something that draws me when you talk, it's like the warmth in your voice,'" said Ly.
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Pacheco still works at the ice cream shop.
"She was incredible, I've really never met anyone so warm and so kind,” said Pacheco. "It's just hard and makes me sad that anyone could just be lost like that, so quickly and so unexpected."
Tuesday, the shop donated 50 percent of their sales to victims from the apartment fire.
"When I heard about this, I wanted to reach out to the community,” said Ly.
According to Ly, Frizzell’s family said they should donate the money to others in need.
"I think any little bit helps, to help them get through these next couple of months as they try to recover and rebuild their lives again,” said Ly. "This is a traumatic time, right, imagine losing everything. I couldn't imagine losing everything that you know you had. So, you know, any little bit helps."
"I'm so happy that I can work for somewhere that actually cares about the community," added Pacheco.
Ly says one-third of the ice cream proceeds will go to the family of Frizzell’s roommate, who also died in the fire, a third to Haley's friend, Zach Sutterfield, who is still in the hospital in critical condition, and the rest to the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team fund for all those who were displaced by the fire.
"It really hurts my heart, but I'm glad that we can do something, at least something,” said Pacheco.
"We just wanted to give back and really wanted to reach out and let them know that we're here and we care, and that we're all one community,” said Ly.
The fundraiser will continue until 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
You can also donate to the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team fund, or the Emergency Relief fund set up by Texas State.