Help Save Fork It — Our Local Restaurant & Community Hub

Help Save Fork It — Our Local Restaurant & Community Hub

Hi, my name is Stephanie Patterson, and I’m the proud owner of Fork It, a small breakfast and lunch restaurant that I opened on March 11, 2020 — just days before the world shut down due to COVID-19.

Opening this restaurant was a lifelong dream. I started it at a time in my life when I wasn’t happy, and I knew I needed a change. I’ve always loved helping people and being part of something meaningful. Fork It gave me a chance to do what I love, be present for my kids — especially since they played a lot of sports — and give back to my community in countless ways.

Why I'm Asking for Help

I’ve always been incredibly independent and have never liked asking for help, but I’ve hit a wall.

When I opened Fork It, we were forced to shut down just six days later due to the pandemic. Because of when I started, I didn’t qualify for many of the financial supports available. For the first 2.5 years, we were closed and reopened with restrictions more than we were actually open. To stay afloat, I took on debt and worked tirelessly to make it through.

Now, business has started to stabilize. We still have the odd bad day, but overall, things have been improving — except the weight of the debt I had to take on during COVID is still crushing. I’ve been working hard to pay it down while keeping the day-to-day going, but I’m always just one bad month away from losing it all.

That bad month has come.

My car died — I now have no vehicle.

I had to share my son’s car temporarily, and repairs cost over $3,000.

We had to close for several days due to a recent ice storm, losing not just sales, but also all our fresh inventory.

It’s been one thing after another, and I simply can’t do it alone anymore.

Why Fork It Matters

Fork It has never just been about food. It’s been about community.

Despite struggling myself, I’ve made it a priority to give back:

We feed the homeless daily.

We donate to local fundraisers and charities.

We sponsor kids’ sports.

We bring food and drinks to volunteers at events like Loonies on the Street.

We run an annual toy drive for The Salvation Army and support Kawartha Food Share.

We’re always looking for new ways to serve others.

Even through personal hardship — including a car accident in 2021 that left me with multiple injuries and a concussion, the loss of my father in 2022, and ongoing struggles with depression and anxiety — I’ve kept showing up, smiling, and giving.

Fork It isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a safe space, a helping hand, and a reflection of my heart.

How You Can Help

I’m asking for help to:

Catch up on operational expenses

Recover from recent unexpected costs

Stabilize Fork It so we can continue serving our community

Any amount helps. Even sharing this campaign means the world to me.

Thank You

This was my dream. I gave up everything to make it happen — for me, for my kids, and for the people in our community. Asking for help like this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But I believe in what I’ve built, and I know that with a little support, I can keep it going and keep giving back.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank you,

Stephanie Patterson

Owner, Fork It