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Start-up fund for Vanessa: reopening a bicycle repair shop after a break-in

Vanessa has run a bicycle repair shop for four years; a break-in destroyed the equipment, and $1,000 will put it back on its feet.

🇧🇷 Brazil3,050 views
Vanessa Camila Fonseca
Email verified
Rio de Janeiro
For four years I have run a bicycle repair shop in Rio de Janeiro. In July, a break-in took a full set of tools. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Monday, 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 $1,000 goes: • Replacing a full set of tools: $500 • Initial stock: spare parts: $135 • Shop repairs and licensing: $120 • Working capital for the first month: $245 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Vanessa

  1. Thank you all. We're at 73% now ($726). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.

  2. Thank you all. We're at 66% now ($656). I'm honestly stunned. the first invoice got paid this week.

  3. We're at 26% thanks to 8 of you. the plan for working capital for the first month is now scheduled. More news soon.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Ida Danielsson 🇸🇪 · $25

    “Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Uppsala”

  • Habib Asif Biswas 🇧🇩 · $30
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $30
  • Carla Monti 🇮🇹 · $25
  • Rahma Amal Tannous 🇸🇦 · $10
  • Christian Jan Lehmann 🇩🇪 · $59.50
  • Víctor A. Cabrera 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Kamini Pretorius 🇿🇦 · $25

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

  • Patricia K. Uy 🇵🇭 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇫🇷 · $20

    “Thinking of you. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Toulon”

  • Naveen D. Shukla 🇮🇳 · $30

    “Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Dwarka”

  • Pavel Hasan Ghosh 🇮🇳 · $15
  • Brandon H. Navarro 🇦🇺 · $10
  • Vaishali S. Patel 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Mio Risa Fujimoto 🇯🇵 · $41

    “Wish I could do more. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Yokohama”

  • Rashed Haque 🇬🇧 · $76.50

    “Every little bit. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Leicester”

  • Anonymous 🇨🇦 · $20

    “Good luck. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Toronto”

  • Selim Tolga Bulut 🇹🇷 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $10

    “All the best. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Glasgow”

  • Nneka Halima Quadri 🇳🇬 · $10

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  • Kumar A. Iyer

    keep going. Shared this with my family. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Thinking of Rio de Janeiro.

    • Dhruv M. Kelkar

      Your post was clear and honest. After 23 years in retail I know how hard it's to ask for anything. Take care.

      • Mohan A. RajuID verified

        Hang in there, Vanessa. Looking forward to the next update. We're a small family in Mar del Plata but we're thinking of you. Love from Mar del Plata

        • Aarti N. DwivediPhoto verified

          Hope this works out for you. I hope September is when things finally get easier. All the best.

          • Natalia Flores

            So sorry you're going through this, Vanessa. Hope you make a strong comeback.

            • Brigitte Sarah Lange

              Rooting for you, Vanessa. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. Blessings.

              • Mohan R. Kumar

                sending good thoughts. Looking forward to the next update. Wish I lived closer to Rawalpindi so I could bring a meal.

                • Diana Maryna KuzmenkoPhoto verified

                  rooting for you, Vanessa. I'd happily buy from you once you're back up. Wish I lived closer to Fort Worth so I could bring a meal

                  • Joaquín W. Castillo

                    hang in there, Vanessa. This could happen to any of us.

                    • Tayo Chidi Abdullahi

                      sending love. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Thinking of Rio de Janeiro.

                      $1,258 raised of $1,000

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