When asked her biggest prayer, Shawna said: “That people don’t have to go hungry.”

For the last three and a half years, Shawna has been feeding people in her community and letting them pay whatever they can afford.

Sometimes that means a donation. Sometimes that means a free meal. Either way, Shawna serves because she knows what it feels like to struggle. After a divorce, she had to start over as a single mom of three, working multiple jobs and trying to keep food on the table. There were times she did not know where the next meal would come from.

Instead of letting those hard times get her down, Shawna turned them into a mission.

Right now, she and her family serve meals twice a month with whatever donations and help they can gather. Her dream is to open a Pay What You Can Cafe, a safe place where people can come in from the cold, eat a meal, and be treated with dignity. If someone cannot pay, they can still eat. If they want to help, they can clear tables, wash dishes, sweep, or volunteer. Shawna also hopes to add a small clothing and essentials area where people can get what they need, even if they do not have money.

Eventually, she wants the cafe to create opportunities for people who need a second chance, including those coming out of prison and trying to rebuild their lives.

This fundraiser will help Shawna take the next step toward a building, kitchen equipment, food supplies, permits, storage, tables, basic furnishings, and the resources needed to serve people more often.

Help Shawna turn years of service into a permanent place of hope for the people who need it most.