Bingo fundraiser in support of search for missing Jennifer Hillier-Penney

It's been more than seven months since a woman on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula went missing — and there's still no sign of her — but the community is rallying to help raise funds for the search.

They are just torn absolutely apart. Her two children of course are devastated.- Marilyn Walker

Jennifer Hillier-Penney, 38, was last seen on the evening of Nov. 30, 2016. RCMP confirmed that her disappearance was considered suspicious, but to date, searches for her have been fruitless.

While there's been no sign of the mother of two, people in the community are now holding their first fundraising event to help the family cover any additional costs associated with the search.

"We're hoping that it's going to make a difference, that it will lighten the burden from the families to try to find them answers," says Marilyn Walker, who sits on a committee which is raising money to find Hillier-Penney.

Walker and the committee have organized a bingo game in the St. Anthony arena for Wednesday night. All cash, prizes and raffle items have been donated.

Walker said the money raised could go towards a number of search strategies. 

• 'There's a murderer out there somewhere': Family of missing St. Anthony woman fears the worst
• Search complete, but police say no sign of missing woman Jennifer Hillier-Penney

"It could be for an extra camera that can go down to a farther depth in water, it could be more extensive dog searches, it could entail probably a psychic along the way. We don't know if that will happen or occur, hopefully maybe we'll get our answers before then," she said.

"It could [include] a private investigator — any means that can be taken care of right now we're hoping that this financially will help them."

Walker said the RCMP are still involved in the search effort, but she worries it's at the point where resources are thin.

'Everybody is just questioning'

While Walker said she isn't connected to any of the families directly involved — though she is acquainted with them — she did contact family last month to ask if they'd allow a fundraiser to be held.

"They are just torn absolutely apart. Her two children of course are devastated … they are just at their wit's end. Just so wanting to find the answers and come to some resolution and bring some peace to their lives," she told CBC's Corner Brook Morning Show.

"Everybody is just questioning. Everybody's questioned, did she go in water? Did she get lost or where did she go? Did she find her way somewhere that she does not know how to get back?"

Walker said she's expecting more than 1,000 people to take part in the bingo fundraiser Wednesday night at 8 p.m.