PHOTOS: Richmond community celebrates return of Lowe’s cat with ‘Francine Fest’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond community gathered at a local brewery on Wednesday to celebrate the beloved feline that made national news headlines after she went missing across state lines for weeks.

"We all came together for a cat. We all love her, but imagine what we could do if we came together for other causes," said Britt Nova, who was part of the task force that found the internet sensation. "We could make a lot of change in Richmond."

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Mainline Brewery in Richmond held a “Francine Fest” community event to celebrate the return of the beloved cat, Francine.

The internet sensation was found safe on Tuesday, Oct. 7, after nearly three weeks of searching near Lowe’s regional distribution center in North Carolina. She reportedly wandered onto a semi-truck bound for a North Carolina distribution center on Sept. 17.

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

"You know what this has taught us is coming together, we can make change happen," Nova said.

Francine has called the store located at 1640 W. Broad St. home for eight years, and was welcomed back into her home store with a “catwalk” on the blue carpet on Oct. 7.

Money raised at "Francine Fest" will benefit the Richmond SPCA, SOS Cats and Richmond Animal Care and Control Shelter.