Plates filled with barbecue, fried chicken, potatoes, cole slaw, hushpuppies and scrumptious desserts flew out of the door of the King’s Fork Community House by the dozens on Friday.

Barely an hour into a fundraiser for a local woman fighting cancer, more than 1,800 plates had been sold, said Michelle Billups, a longtime friend of Janine Joyner, who was diagnosed Feb. 2 with leukemia.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” Billups said.

Joyner was at the event electronically, although not in person. Despite the fact she was in bed at Sentara Obici Hospital taking a third round of treatment, she was texting Billups to ask if there was enough help.

Billups said the fundraiser was extraordinarily successful thanks to support from the community and the wonders of social media.

“Businesses were calling and mailing in checks” after seeing it on social media, Billups said.

Staff at several schools, including Kilby Shores and Mack Benn Jr. elementary schools and Isle of Wight Academy, ordered plenty of food, which was catered by Captain Bob’s. Joyner herself sold plates to her doctors’ offices and second-shift nurses at the hospital.

Joyner grew up in the Windsor area and moved to Suffolk in 1977, said her mother, Pat Johnson, who was one of several family members who helped at the fundraiser. She works at Chip’s Repair and Towing, which her husband owns.

“She’s the real boss,” Billups said.

About 40 volunteers worked at the community house and delivered plates on Friday. Johnson said even more people have helped the family in general, whether through volunteering to sit at the hospital or to meet other needs.

“The whole family is really appreciative of everything that’s been done for her,” Johnson said. “So many people have helped us out, it’s just hard to thank everybody. It’s meant a lot.”

Billups said the money raised will be turned over to Joyner to help defray medical expenses.