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Help Leonardo restart a roadside café in Los Angeles after a fire in the building

A roadside café in Los Angeles needs help replacing an espresso machine and grinder after a fire in the building.

🇺🇸 United States828 views
Leonardo E. Lara
Email verifiedAddress verifiedPhoto verified
Los Angeles
For fifteen years I have run a roadside café in Los Angeles. 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 Tuesday, 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 $1,200 goes: • Shop repairs and licensing: $390 • Working capital for the first month: $440 • Initial stock: coffee and pastries: $370 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to. - Leonardo
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Leonardo

  1. We're at 57% thanks to 17 of you. I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts. More news soon.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($467 in total) I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Wanted to say thank you properly. 23% funded and I made the first payment toward working capital for the first month.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Verónica T. Lozano 🇲🇽 · $25

    “Wishing you the best. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Monterrey”

  • Zahra Hana Taha 🇲🇦 · $100

    “Thought of Leonardo all day after reading this. - Mohammedia”

  • Obinna Dayo Adeyemi 🇳🇬 · $10
  • Ifeanyi Kingsley Yusuf 🇳🇬 · $30

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

  • Nova H. Graham 🇺🇸 · $200
  • Temitope Ajayi 🇳🇬 · $20

    “Hope things get better. Thought of Leonardo all day after reading this. - Lagos”

  • Juliana Aline Correia 🇧🇷 · $10
  • Rizky Gunawan Lubis 🇮🇩 · $10
  • Hossain Omar Majumder 🇧🇩 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇯🇵 · $64
  • Juan E. Salazar 🇦🇷 · $15
  • Elena L. Tolentino 🇵🇭 · $45
  • Anonymous 🇪🇹 · $25
  • David T. Crawford 🇺🇸 · $30
  • Mansi L. Vora 🇮🇳 · $52.50
  • Min-ji So-yeon Sung 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Farhana Rahima Rahman 🇧🇩 · $80
  • Trung Nghĩa Ta 🇻🇳 · $4
  • Nusrat Sultana Mia 🇧🇩 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $100

Reviews

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Questions & comments

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  • Arjun R. Chauhan

    Gave what I could, wish it was more. Greetings from Yogyakarta.

    • Josiah C. Mendoza

      keep going, Leonardo. Hope you make a strong comeback.

      • Kausar Javeria IsmailPhoto verified

        Good luck. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Love from Nairobi.

        • Logan N. Vazquez

          Hope things get better soon. Hope you make a strong comeback. Put this on a community board in Bogotá this morning. Thinking of Los Angeles.

          • Mekdes Hanna Kebede

            Sending good thoughts. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. Love from Málaga.

            • Orlando B. Dela Cruz

              looking forward to the next update. It's not much but it's yours. Thinking of Los Angeles.

              $1,075.50 raised of $1,200

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