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Help Dirk restart a roadside café in Amsterdam after a fire in the building

Dirk has run a roadside café for four years; a fire in the building destroyed the equipment, and $2,800 will put it back on its feet.

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Dirk Meijers
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Amsterdam
For four years I have run a roadside café in Amsterdam. In August, a fire in the building took an espresso machine and grinder. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Friday, and I employed 3 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 $2,800 goes: • Initial stock: coffee and pastries: $390 • Replacing an espresso machine and grinder: $1,900 • Working capital for the first month: $510 Thanks for reading all this. - Dirk
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Dirk

  1. Small update. $1,055 so far, I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts.

  2. 14% there. I made the first payment toward replacing an espresso machine and grinder. Thank you.

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  • Florence Marchal

    Thanks for sharing this. Looking forward to the next update. Love from Anaheim

    • Allison C. Fitzgerald

      So sorry you're going through this, Dirk. Hope the shop reopens soon. I'll check back for the next update.

      • Giulia LongoQuestion

        Is initial stock: coffee and pastries the biggest cost or is there more coming?

        • Dirk MeijersOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

          It's all in the list in the story. initial stock: coffee and pastries is the big one at $390, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Thanks for looking so closely.

      • Babar Junaid Qazi

        Hang in there, Dirk. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

        • Fatima MbaQuestionID verified

          Is there anything that isn't money that would help Dirk?

          • Prakash A. Pillai

            Sending good thoughts, Dirk. Looking forward to the next update. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Greetings from Obuasi.

            • Henrique Amaral

              Hope it all works out. Shared it with a few friends. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. All the best

              • Rahim Dipu Islam

                Keep going, Dirk. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. God bless.

                • Eric Antwi

                  A colleague of mine might know someone for this in North Holland. I'll ask around and let you know

                  • Vishal L. Mishra

                    hang in there, Dirk. I hope things turn around soon. Please keep us posted

                    $1,726.50 raised of $2,800

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