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Start-up fund for Santiago: reopening a tailoring shop after a fire in the building

Santiago lost three industrial sewing machines to a fire in the building and needs $2,500 to reopen a tailoring shop and support the family.

🇺🇸 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States1,931 views
Santiago H. Benítez
Email verifiedPassport verified
Shreveport
For fifteen years I have run a tailoring shop in Shreveport. In August, a fire in the building took three industrial sewing machines. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Sunday, and I employed 3 people from the neighborhood. I have been out of business for 6 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 $2,500 goes: • Shop repairs and licensing: $500 • Initial stock: fabric and thread: $690 • Replacing three industrial sewing machines: $1,310 I'll keep this page updated with receipts as things happen.
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Santiago

  1. Small update. $1,661 so far, the plan for replacing three industrial sewing machines is now scheduled.

  2. Update from Shreveport: we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. We're at 62% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  3. Good news. Because of your gifts ($1,321 in total) I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Peyton W. Warren 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Muhammad Wahyu Santoso 🇮🇩 · $10
  • Orawan Isaree Thammasat 🇹🇭 · $25
  • Ji-min Min-ji Shim 🇰🇷 · $30
  • Alice L. Moreno 🇬🇧 · $30
  • Magdalini Theodora Theodorou 🇬🇷 · $28

    “Sending love. Thought of Santiago all day after reading this. - Thessaloniki”

  • Marta R. Cabrera 🇺🇸 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇯🇵 · $25

    “Best of luck. My mother told me about this one. - Osaka”

  • Peyton H. Diaz 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Brian F. Reed 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Ubol Lalita Mahawong 🇹🇭 · $5
  • Carter D. Obrien 🇺🇸 · $5

    “You got this. Thought of Santiago all day after reading this.”

  • Gita Wardana 🇮🇩 · $15

    “Praying for you - Denpasar”

  • Rajesh G. Panwar 🇮🇳 · $84
  • Elijah Palmer 🇨🇦 · $31
  • Halima Zawadi Omondi 🇰🇪 · $25

    “Get well soon. Been where you're, it gets better. - Kikuyu”

  • Dipu Habib Sarker 🇧🇩 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇵🇰 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $75
  • Kariuki Kiptoo Omondi 🇰🇪 · $20

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  • Ha-eun Hye-won Seo

    hope it all works out. Shared it with a few friends. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Take care!

    • Min-seo Soo-ah BaeID verified

      Sending good thoughts. Shared this with my family. Love from Bhaktapur

      • Alamin Kamrul Mukherjee

        Hang in there, Santiago. Small businesses are the heart of Shreveport. Hope you're open again soon. My husband and I read this together. Blessings.

        $2,173.50 raised of $2,500

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