Dear friends, family, and community, As many of you may know, our beloved parents, Dave and Kathy Shawl, are facing a challenging road ahead. On Wednesday, September 16th Dave is undergoing open-heart surgery to replace a valve as well as a bypass. For over 40 years, Dave has owned and operated Auburn Plumbing, serving countless homes and local businesses across our community. While his dedicated two-person crew will do their best to keep daily operations running, the business simply cannot operate at full strength while Dave steps back for a mandatory three-month recovery period. At the same time, Kathy continues her full-time daily care for our brother, Bobby, who has severe special needs and requires around-the-clock support. Beyond her family, Kathy has dedicated over 23 years to Bennati's Martial Arts, where as a black belt instructor she generously volunteers her time teaching and mentoring students of all ages. Dave has spent four decades solving emergency plumbing problems for our community, and Kathy has spent over two decades empowering local students on the mat. Now, it’s our turn to show up for them. Because Dave and Kathy live in a secluded area deep in Foresthill—about 40 minutes from town—delivering hot, home-cooked meals isn’t practical. To make support as useful and accessible as possible, we’ve created this Give InKind page to coordinate food gift cards, grocery gift cards, and direct financial support. How You Can Help: Meal & Grocery Gift Cards: Gift cards for grocery stores like Raleys/Bel Air, Safeway or Target for household essentials and groceries as well as restaurant gift cards are appreciated. Unfortunately, services like door dash and Uber eats do not deliver to my parents rural home. Physical gift cards can be dropped off to Vivian at Bennati's Martial Arts during business hours. Financial Contributions: Direct financial support will go toward helping cover basic household bills and medical expenses. Messages of Encouragement: Please leave a note of love, prayer, or encouragement for Dave, Kathy, and Bobby as they navigate the months ahead. Thank you so much for wrapping your arms around the Shawl family during this time. Your generosity, love, and support mean the world to us! -Mavis Greenhalgh and Vivian Higley (The Shawl Girls)
Favorite local restaurants for gift cards include El Tapatio, Old Town Pizza, Sourdough and Co, Awful Annie's, and Auburn Thai Garden. Best Grocery Stores for gift cards include Raleys/Bel Air, Safeway and Target.