Family and friends of Samantha Koenig held a fundraiser Saturday in an effort to increase the reward fund for any information that leads to her safe return.

Entertainment, food, and the warehouse space was all donated for the fundraiser- just one sign of how much support the family has received from the community. With several bands there, friends of Samantha’s say she would have enjoyed the event. One of the organizers says “Samstock” was her father’s idea.

“Right now we’ve got so many great people from the community and so many peopcle from around town who donated their time,” says Michelle Tasker, a friend of the family.

Samantha’s boyfriend Duane was also there to help with the fundraiser. He says he is doing what he can to help get her back.

“She’s there every night when I go to sleep, you know. It’s just hard. Just trying to show positivity on the outside but on the inside it’s just fear,” he says.

The reward is more than $70,000. Anyone with information about Samantha Koenig’s abduction is asked to call Anchorage police at 786-8900.

Source: http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-samstock-raises-money-for-koenigs-reward-fund-20120225,0,142551.story

Community Plans Fundraiser to Help in Search for Missing Barista

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It’s now week 3 in the search for Samantha Koenig, the 18-year-old barista who went missing at her workplace at a Midtown coffee stand.

Family and friends are trying to keep her disappearance at the forefront of everyone’s minds with a special event.

It’s a fundraiser sponsored by Top Hat Entertainment, an event center. One of the 7 organizers, Michelle Tasker said, proceeds from the event, called “Samstock,” will go towards future searches and to increase the reward fund.

“Maybe there’s a certain figure people are looking for, and once we hit it, it might just be the money shot that will get her home,” said Tasker. “We are covering every base at that point.”

Police said the 18-year-old was abducted February 1, and since then, the department received about 360 tips. According to police, the case itself is unlike any case they’ve worked on before, but Sgt. Slawomir Markiewicz said there are solid leads they are following up on. He added there are at least a dozen detectives and a handful of officers are on the streets working continuously through long nights and weekends.