In the eight years that Richard and Nancy Liu have owned and operated the Foster’s Freeze fast-food restaurant on Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, they have become widely known for their grace, kindness and generosity.
Richard regularly gives free ice cream to kids and dogs. If a customer is short of funds, or having a hard time, he makes sure they are taken care of. He always greets customers with a smile, often includes sides on the menu for free, and refuses tips.
On April 20, the serenity of his small franchise operation was shattered by a violent burglary: Power lines were cut to the vital refrigeration and freezer units, the door lock was broken, the interior vandalized, and food was stolen.
The community responded almost immediately, giving back to their kind local ice cream man.
As word spread through social media, people began asking what they could do to help. Kevin Foster (no relation to the franchise), and the Boulder Creek Neighbors on Facebook decided to start a GoFundMe account without telling Richard. They knew if they told him, he would refuse to take the money. The initial goal was $5,000 but within 24 hours, the total amount of contributions was $7,500.
A secret “Sunday Ice Cream Social” was arranged via social media for 3:30 p.m. the following Sunday, April 24, at the restaurant. Hundreds of people showed up.
To much applause and cheering, Foster presented Liu with a giant check. As always, he was very gracious and humble, saying he would give it all back to the community. He thanked the community, saying, “My door, and my heart is always open, no need to break in.”
In an interview the next day, Liu said he is going to take advice from local community leaders as to where the money would do the most good. He was amazed at how volunteers came to help on Thursday to clean up and he was able to open for business that afternoon. “It was so touching that the whole town sort of came together to help me, an ordinary burger seller,” he said.
