COMMUNITY HERO NEEDS HELP moving from PNW to Virginia

Hello everyone! We are a bit short of our goal. Leaving PNW on Monday. Please help Roxana if you can. Thank you!

Hi. My name is Pat Qualls. I am raising funds for a community hero and my friend, Roxana, for her upcoming move from Washington state to Virginia.

Many of you have known her as the volunteer manager of Faith Food Bank. You may also have seen her in her ice cream truck at Forest Park in Everett, Wa.

Roxana dedicated the last 13 years providing food to the Everett community by running Faith Food Bank. She volunteered her time, vehicle, and money to collect food 7 days a week from Food Life line and many stores and businesses that supported the food bank. (Grocery Outlet Everett Mall Way, Rodlands Toyota, Costco Everett, Cash&Carry Lynnwood, 100 Women Who Care About Snohomish County, Toys4Tots, ELCA National Domestic Hunger, Target Lynnwood, as well as other church groups and private donors.

With the help of other volunteers Roxana set up food distribution every Friday morning. She spent each entire week gathering food. What started as a small endeavor turned into a very large program. Covid increased the number of visitors from about 20 per week to an average of 300 cars picking up food every Friday. The need did not decrease after Covid. The food bank provided food, no questions asked, to about 200 cars every Friday during the last few years.

Back Story:

The Faith Luthern Church is not continuing the food bank although many volunteers have promised to stay on to help. It is a small church and has decided to charge rent and other expenses to the food bank. Other food distribution groups have come forward to continue the effort in the same location but have no funds to pay those expenses. Therefore, at this time, the food bank has closed with the last distribution on May 9th.

Roxana needs to retire. She has health problems exacerbated by her heroic efforts to provide food to those who needed it. Its her time to enjoy life in other ways, rest, improve health issues and be near family friends that love her. I am quite certain she will be an active member of her new community.

She is in the process of selling her home - at a loss. She cannot finalize the sale until her entire septic system is redone at a cost of approximately $30,000. With that expense, closing costs and shipping costs there are little funds left. She will be traveling to Virginia by car. I am flying to Washington to join her on the long trip eastward.

The reason for the fund raiser is to help pay for fuel and lodging for two adults with two dogs. (Hotels charge much more with two dogs) It will take us about a week with God's help and good weather. And your help.

You can find articles about Roxana's selfless efforts in Seattle and Everett, Washington newspapers. She is also known for initiating and completing a pallet village that houses homeless families while more stable housing was sought.



Thank you for reading. Donate if you can. Please share Roxana's story.