Oakdale Country Kitchen fire fund

I'm a friend of Bonnie and Bill Gibson, whose restaurant, the Oakdale Country Kitchen, caught fire Monday, June 15, 2015. I know many people are wanting to know what they can do to help, and this seems the best way to allow them to do so easily. For those who aren't sure, let me tell you about the Gibsons, the restaurant, and how much our community wants and needs this restaurant.
Bonnie and Bill are the nicest, hardest working people you could meet. I know (at the very least) that Bonnie invested all her retirement money and the money she inherited from her father in this restaurant. I know that they, their children/spouses, and other family members have put blood, sweat and tears into shoring up an old, locally historic building so it could continue to be used as a restaurant. I know that Bonnie and Bill have not earned a penny over the last 4+ years since they bought it, putting all their money into employee salaries, other daily expenses, building and kitchen improvements, and new additions. And yet, when I approached them about getting a GoFundMe account started to help them get going again, I initially just heard that "there are a lot of other causes more worthy than somebody's restaurant". (They, in fact, have one evening a month where they donate their profits to some of those worthy causes.) It took some talking to convince them to even let me set this account up for them.
I had to remind them that I was doing this not just for them, but for myself and others who want and need this restaurant. The village of Oakdale has only 220 people, and the restaurant is the place we can eat good home-style food and also share time with neighbors, friends, and people from surrounding communities. It is very sad to see the center of town lacking this busy gathering place. It is inconvenient to have to drive for miles so that you don't have to cook at home one evening. It is unthinkable that people won't be able to enjoy the best fried chicken you ever tasted...
Fortunately, the older portion of the restaurant has only smoke and water damage, and can be restored. Unfortunately, the restaurant was grossly underinsured. With what insurance money they get, and a lot more incredibly hard work, the Gibsons should be able to get the original part of the restaurant going again. They said they can save and maybe eventually rebuild a new addition.
I also want to add that, with all of this on their plates, what I most heard from them that first day was their concern for their employees--people "who had car payments, etc."--and their hope that they could use insurance money to keep their employees working some during the clean-up, so the workers wouldn't suffer so much financially.
I'll add pictures, but you can go to the Oakdale Country Kitchen Facebook page to see more, plus a cute video of their adorable granddaughters learning to make pie crust from Grandma Bonnie. We'll also add pictures as they get things cleaned up, letting you know what they're spending your money on. I can guarantee it won't be for a trip to Hawaii. Also, they weren't able to come up with a figure for what it will take to get things going again, so I came up with an arbitrary amount. If donations go beyond what they need for original clean-up and start-up costs, I figure they can put it towards their fund to rebuild a new addition. But if they tell me to shut the account down before that point, I'll do so. Also, in case anyone wondered, I'm setting this up so no money can come to me, only to them.
IF YOU CAN'T OR DON'T CARE TO DONATE, PLEASE CONSIDER SHARING THIS ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE REGARDLESS. That way, it will have a chance of getting to others who are wanting to donate. I've heard there are a lot of them out there.
Cathy Combs