Gilbert Street Cafe holding fundraiser for hospitalized worker

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — People come to Gilbert Street Café in Danville for good food and conversation, but on November 18 they'll be coming to show support for a worker at the café.

On that day, workers will be supporting Ella Frerichs, who has been hospitalized for more than a week.

"Everyone's wearing pink," Jenny Hibler, Frerichs' coworker said. "We're trying to support her as best as we can. And 25% of the proceeds that we do throughout the whole entire day are going to be donated to her.

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Frerichs' parents said she was hit by a car her friend was driving. She was pinned and dragged by the vehicle.

"It's very rough, but I got to FaceTime her today," Hibler said. "It's a miracle how good she's doing."

A partial owner of Gilbert Street Café, Paul Saliu, said their goal is to ease the burden on Frerichs and her family while she recovers.

"The only thing we're doing right now is just trying to support her financially," Sailu said.

For next Monday, they hope everyone will show up in pink ready to buy a cup of coffee to support a coworker they consider to be family.

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"All the prayers and everything that she's getting, I think is going to she's going to make a full recovery," Hibler said.

Gilbert Street Cafe started a GoFundMe for Frerichs for donations. People can also drop off cash donations at the restaurant.

WCIA reached out to the Danville Police Department for details on the incident, but we have not heard anything back yet.