Northwest Herald

Crystal Lake woman’s surprise donation gives food truck company in Fox River Grove a new start after fire

Donor read about the food truck’s needs in a Northwest Herald story

Carrie Jones, left, and Shauna Fetterman are looking to raise funds to fix their Girl's Got Balls food truck before the springtime.

Fox River Grove-based Girl’s Got Balls food truck will be at local festivals and events this summer, thanks to a donation from a Crystal Lake woman who is funding their repairs after their truck was damaged from a fire.

Owner Shauna Fetterman started a GoFundMe fundraiser earlier this month as a last attempt to raise enough money to fund the necessary repairs. The truck was in need of an upgraded vent hood with a fire suppression system after a cracked valve leaked propane inside the trailer in September 2022.

In order to get fire marshal and health department approval to reopen, she needed to upgrade the vent hood with a fire suppression system that costs at least $5,500, Fetterman said. On top of that, their cooler was breaking and wouldn’t maintain steady temperatures.

After reading about their needs reported in the Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake resident Donna Vestal decided to step up and donated $5,000.

“If everybody helps everybody else, one person won’t have to do so much,” Vestal said.

With the help of friends, Fetterman was able to get a quote for the vent hood at a lower cost, leaving leftover funds for some other much-needed repairs.

“So we’ll be able to get a new cooler, so we won’t have that issue for a long time to come,” she said. “We’re able to get our plumbing issues fixed within the food truck.”

Vestal has a history of supporting the community through donations and volunteering at places including the Raue Center for the Arts and On Angel’s Wings Pet Rescue and Thrift Store.

Donna Vestal of Crystal Lake poses for a portrait while volunteering at On Angels' Wings Pet Rescue and Thrift Store in Crystal Lake. Vestal is a cancer survivor and has dedicated her time to helping others deal with cancer and volunteering for animal and child-related causes.

“I didn’t have much growing up,” she said. “I just believe in helping where I can help. It’s just one of my quirks.”

Before Vestal’s donation, Fetterman wasn’t sure she could keep her business alive. Now she is already signing up to be a vendor at local events, including Cary fireworks in June and a Fox River Grove three-day festival in August.

“From there on, we’re just beginning to start booking our calendar,” she said.

Fetterman said her gluten-free menu will most likely change for each event and will feature some new recipes never before seen.

“We’re not going to give any secrets away, just yet,” she said.

Fetterman and her business partner Carrie Jones appeared on the Food Network show “The Great Food Truck Race” in 2022. The business, which launched in 2020, specializes in fried, hand-held foods like mac and cheese balls and caramel buns.

Fetterman called Vestal’s donation “an absolute miracle. If she ever comes to our food truck, she will never have to pay for anything. She gets free balls for life.”

Michelle Meyer

Michelle is a reporter for the Northwest Herald that covers Crystal Lake, Cary, Lakewood, Prairie Grove, Fox River Grove and McHenry County College