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Help Isla restart a street-food cart in Oakland after floodwater

Isla lost a gas stove and two refrigerators to floodwater and needs $4,000 to reopen a street-food cart and support the family.

🇺🇸 Oakland, California, United States2,290 views
Isla F. Wheeler
Email verifiedPassport verified
Oakland
For six years I have run a street-food cart in Oakland. In May, floodwater took a gas stove and two refrigerators. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Friday, and I employed 2 people from the neighborhood. I have been out of business for 3 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 $4,000 goes: • Working capital for the first month: $610 • Replacing a gas stove and two refrigerators: $3,150 • Shop repairs and licensing: $240 Even a small gift gets used right away and I'll thank you myself.

Updates from Isla

  1. Small update. $618 so far, I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts.

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $200

    “Take care of yourselves. Thought of Isla all day after reading this. - Epe”

  • Camila D. García 🇲🇽 · $100

    “All the best. Been where you are, it gets better. - Tlaquepaque”

  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Giovanni Greco 🇮🇹 · $75

    “Take care of yourselves. My colleague told me about this one. - Parma”

  • Ngozika Queen Olawale 🇳🇬 · $75
  • Isaac Olawale 🇳🇬 · $73.50
  • Jacob Armstrong 🇬🇧 · $73

    “You got this. Only $73 but hope it helps. - Leicester”

  • Lâm Nam Hoang 🇺🇸 · $71
  • Chinmay D. Desai 🇮🇳 · $55

    “From my family to yours. Hope the August deadline works out. - Kota”

  • Zlata Bogdana Antonov 🇺🇦 · $50
  • Kwabena Ebo Nti 🇬🇭 · $50
  • Kamrul Rahman 🇧🇩 · $50
  • Jacques Hubert 🇫🇷 · $50
  • Lavanya G. Balakrishnan 🇮🇳 · $48
  • Raymond Adjei 🇬🇭 · $44.50
  • Emiliano H. Ochoa 🇺🇸 · $36
  • Anonymous 🇵🇰 · $30

    “Wish I could do more. Only $30 but hope it helps. - Rawalpindi”

  • Horace Spence 🇯🇲 · $25
  • Kamol Nikom Chaiyasit 🇹🇭 · $25
  • Parker Reid 🇺🇸 · $25

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  • stay strong, Isla. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Thinking of Oakland

    • Wishing you peace, Isla. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Thinking of Oakland.

      • So sorry you're going through this. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. I have a 5 year old who wants to send good wishes too

        • Keep going, Isla. Small businesses are the heart of Oakland. Hope you're open again soon. Don't give up. Take care!

          $1,633.50 raised of $4,000

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