WOODLEAF — Friends of a Woodleaf woman hope to ease her financial woes after a series of surgeries and medical conditions saddled her with mounting doctors’ bills.

Community members are hosting a fish fry fundraiser for Roxanne Smith at Gay’s Chapel United Methodist Church off Woodleaf Road on Saturday.

Proceeds will be funneled through a church official, according to organizers, and the money will be used only for medical bills.

Debbie Fleming, who worked with several on a committee to launch the effort, said the event will kick off at 11 a.m. and go until the food runs out.

“It’s a dine and donate situation,” Fleming said. “We don’t charge a price.”

Roxanne said she was “shocked” when the mention of her growing medical bills snowballed into the fundraiser.

After a bit, she said, she decided to look at the help as a blessing.

“I was like, ‘Well maybe I do. Maybe I ought not be so hard-headed,’ ” Smith said. “I feel like it’s one way the Lord’s trying to take care of me.”

Smith said ongoing stomach conditions and several surgeries prompted the financial troubles.

Organizers said Frontline Ministries stepped in to help facilitate the fundraiser after community members began asking for assistance.

The fish fry will be held at 5545 Woodleaf Road.