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Faisal needs an espresso machine and grinder to reopen a roadside café

A roadside café in Oakland needs help replacing an espresso machine and grinder after a storm that collapsed the roof.

🇺🇸 Oakland, California, United States1,499 views
Faisal Mahmoud Tawfik
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Oakland
For nine years I have run a roadside café in Oakland. In May, a storm that collapsed the roof took an espresso machine and grinder. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Sunday, and I employed 2 people from the neighborhood. I have been out of business for 12 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. I'll buy equipment from local suppliers and post photos and receipts as I go. Where the $2,950 goes: • Replacing an espresso machine and grinder: $1,350 • Initial stock: coffee and pastries: $620 • Shop repairs and licensing: $270 • Working capital for the first month: $710 You're what makes this possible, and I'll never forget it. - Faisal
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Faisal

  1. 26% there. I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts. Thank you.

  2. We're at 14% thanks to 14 of you. I made the first payment toward replacing an espresso machine and grinder. More news soon.

  3. Update from Oakland: I made the first payment toward working capital for the first month. We're at 5% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Femi Jimoh 🇳🇬 · $200
  • Anitha S. Menon 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Imani Muthoni Wekesa 🇹🇿 · $100
  • Kalyani C. Modi 🇮🇳 · $75
  • Filip Marciniak 🇵🇱 · $60

    “Keep your head up. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Gliwice”

  • Kevin Dennis Athumani 🇰🇪 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $50
  • Esther Idowu Anyanwu 🇳🇬 · $50

    “Thinking of you. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Asaba”

  • Thabo W. Nel 🇿🇦 · $50

    “God bless. Thought of Faisal all day after reading this.”

  • Theodore Whitaker 🇺🇸 · $44.50

    “Hope this helps - Greensboro”

  • Maryam Zahra Osman 🇪🇬 · $30
  • Oliver H. Mitchell 🇬🇧 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇹🇭 · $25
  • Intan Hutapea 🇮🇩 · $25
  • Faisal Mohammed Gaber 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇵🇭 · $20
  • Hui Jia Su 🇺🇸 · $20
  • Theresa Comfort Wiredu 🇬🇭 · $20
  • Karina S. Mora 🇦🇷 · $20
  • Owen P. Moore 🇺🇸 · $15.50

Reviews

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Questions & comments

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  • Lavanya G. Rao

    Hope things get better soon. I hope things turn around soon. Sent it to 4 people at work

    • Elke Nina Klein

      so sorry you're going through this. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I have a 13 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Love from Nashik.

      • Saraswathi D. Anand

        Wishing you peace, Faisal. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Thinking of Oakland.

        • Sita A. Grewal

          Good luck. Shared this with my family. Sent it to 24 people at work. Greetings from Lahore.

          • Roberto T. CruzPhoto verified

            Hope this works out for you. Thinking of Oakland.

            $1,106 raised of $2,950

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