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Back to business - Pamela's comeback in Oakland

Pamela lost a soldering station and testing tools to the demolition of the market and needs $4,150 to reopen a phone repair counter and support the family.

🇺🇸 Oakland, California, United States2,513 views
Pamela A. Parks
Email verifiedAddress verified
Oakland
For fifteen years I have run a phone repair counter in Oakland. In August, the demolition of the market took a soldering station and testing tools. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Saturday, and I employed 1 people from the neighborhood. I have been out of business for 4 weeks. This business pays my children's school fees and rent. I have already started working from home in small ways, but I can't meet orders without proper equipment. Every contribution brings me closer to reopening, and I promise to post photos as I buy each item. Once I'm back on my feet I plan to hire back the people I had to let go. Where the $4,150 goes: • Replacing a soldering station and testing tools: $2,000 • Initial stock: replacement parts: $830 • Shop repairs and licensing: $590 • Working capital for the first month: $730 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.

Updates from Pamela

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  • Isabel D. Orozco 🇺🇸 · $500
  • Doris Bradley 🇺🇸 · $250
  • Liam A. Fowler 🇺🇸 · $200
  • Imran R. Moodley 🇿🇦 · $200
  • Mercy Hauwa Danjuma 🇳🇬 · $200
  • Eva M. Flores 🇬🇧 · $200
  • Adriana Beatriz Pacheco 🇧🇷 · $200
  • Femke Femke Bosman 🇳🇱 · $100

    “Best of luck. Shared with friends too. - Eindhoven”

  • Ji-yeon Jung-hee Lee 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Jin-woo Min-ho Son 🇰🇷 · $100
  • Rima Samira Abdallah 🇪🇬 · $75
  • Bennett Guzman 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Farah Yasmin Ghanem 🇪🇸 · $70

    “You got this. Please keep us posted. - Málaga”

  • Anthony N. Fleming 🇳🇿 · $69
  • Mary Grace J. Quizon 🇵🇭 · $59.50

    “Sending love. My cousin told me about this one. - Caloocan”

  • Oleg Gleb Kovalev 🇺🇦 · $50
  • Weston Lane 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Gabriel Pierre Noel 🇫🇷 · $50

    “Thinking of you. Hope you get the rest soon. - Rennes”

  • Leni Karin Vogt 🇩🇪 · $50

    “Wish I could do more. Thought of Pamela all day after reading this. - Berlin”

  • Kingsley Daniel Afolabi 🇳🇬 · $50

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  • rooting for you, Pamela. Small businesses are the heart of Oakland. Hope you're open again soon. Blessings.

    • you're not alone. It takes guts to ask. Well done. I'll check back for the next update

      • Thinking of you and your family. Looking forward to the next update. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Greetings from Kyiv.

        • Sending good thoughts, Pamela. Looking forward to the next update.

          • Sending love. Hope the shop reopens soon. Greetings from Haarlem.

            • is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Pamela!

              • Pamela A. ParksOwnerAnswerAddress verified

                Sure. The biggest one is replacing a soldering station and testing tools, $2,000. The rest is in the list at the bottom of the post and I'll upload receipts as I pay each one. Thanks for looking so closely.

            • take care, Pamela. This could happen to any of us. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. All the best.

              • Thanks for sharing this. This could happen to any of us. After 17 years in logistics I know how hard it's to ask for anything

                • Óscar D. LunaID verified

                  It takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. Love from Saket.

                  • Khalid Bilal MahmoudPhoto verified

                    Hope you get there. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Love from Scranton.

                    • Thinking of you. Hope the shop reopens soon. We're a small family in Barranquilla but we're thinking of you. Take care

                      • Aisha MussaAddress verifiedPhoto verified

                        Take care. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. I'll check back for the next update. Greetings from Karachi.

                        • Carmen EstradaPhoto verified

                          Wishing you peace, Pamela. This could happen to any of us. I went through something like this 6 years ago and strangers helped me out!

                          • Paloma K. ÁlvarezAddress verifiedPhoto verified

                            Small businesses are the heart of Oakland. Hope you're open again soon. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Take care.

                            • Hope it all works out, Pamela. Shared this with my family. All the best

                              • good luck, Pamela. Shared this with my family. God bless

                                • Hope it all works out. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. Wish I lived closer to Nairobi so I could bring a meal. Blessings

                                  • Hope things get better soon. Shared it with a few friends. Greetings from Arlington.

                                    $4,355.50 raised of $4,150

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