HELP SAVE! Arlene's Home Store

Help Save Arlene’s Home Store 

With great sorrow and sadness, I must ask for HELP! As most of us already know; the Small Business Administration aided and supported a lot of big businesses during this painful and dreadful Pandemic. Causing a lot of Small Businesses to fail!  So, I now ask for your help in saving my Small Business; by aiding with reaching our goal of $25,000... Because the SBA failed to HELP!

Arlene's Home Store is a small furniture and mattress store located in SE Houston-TX. We have been in business for over 8 years. We are extremely grateful to be able to provide cost-friendly furniture and mattresses to our customers. We can say we have the great pleasure to have the opportunity to mark a glorious history in our community. Every year our business continues to develop stronger with the extraordinary help of our unwavering and outstanding support of our loyal customers and those customer referrals' of new customers.
Our growth was made possible due to our ability to deliver outstanding products and services for our customers.  `

However, everything was going well till March of 2020. Like most small businesses, due to the PANDEMIC our customer traffic has been weak; causing our business major challenges and great hardship. We had to close our door for a few months and were no longer able to support our staff.   So, of course, paying rent and bills was an issue. We build a new e-commerce store and well it is new; so, sales are also weak. Plus, it's expensive to get paying traffic to your site.

To combat the above-mentioned circumstances, we decided to apply for all grants and loans programs made available to us.  The most suitable choice was to apply for as many as possible. We applied for Government and non-Government Assistance Loans and Grant programs with the SBA and others. We were very optimistic regarding all applications due to the Pandemic situation. But, was denied for all! The SBA denied us due to superfluous reasons. 

The first reason they claim "credit score was excessively low". Despite very unfavorable circumstances, which at the time my score was a good and fair 670. But, why was my score a factor in a Pandemic? Considering credit score for denial in such harsh terminal of Covid-19 has neither rhyme nor reason.  *Immediately I contacted SBA Customer Support. But I was faced with the same refusal. No one was willing to help! Just advised me to appeal again.

Once I appeal the second time; they claimed I owed for back CHILD SUPPORT! I have NO KIDS. But, what if I did? Once again why will this matter be a factor for aid in a PANDEMIC? The objection doesn't make sense! *Both the above-mentioned reasons were not expectable for denial. Therefore, I appealed a third time and my appeal was rejected and denied again with a combination of both reasons above. Which was not at all genuine reasons.

This matter got so stressful and depressing, I got so desperate regarding my business upholding that I even contacted three Texas State Representatives offices for assistance in this matter. Hoping that they can do something about all my denied appeals by The SBA for Government Assistance. But, that was no help, a complete waste of time. 


A little hope emerged in the form of a small loan. We get approved for a very small PPP loan via my bank which only allows us to pay one month of our 3 months back rent. They also approved me for forgiveness; which I didn't need to repay. 

Things got so bad that I have to apply for food stamps. Which I was approved for $200 a month. That helps a great deal for almost a year.
Until it ran out and ended recently. This was small, but it did aid in the assistance of us feeding the homeless a few times a week. Feeding the homeless is a must and absolute necessity, with the overwhelming increase in crime in our area; believe it or not the homeless are the only ones we can rely on to keep away the craziness from our door in the middle of the night. So, must keep them feed. 

BASE ON ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED AND NOT HAPPENED TO OUR BUSINESS DURING THIS PANDEMIC; I TRULY FEEL THAT ALL WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WAS SET UP FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO FAIL. During all this time my business has solely survived off my savings and now all of that is GONE. Now I am pleading with the World to help SAVE my business. 

Your contributions will go toward paying monthly business expenses that have fallen behind throughout this year.  We need $25,000 to make this all happen!  Your contributions will help us pay for:
1. Past Due Bills & Back Rent
2. Purchase of Goods & Products; Need to keep shop stock.
3. Advertising & Marketing; need to bring stronger traffic back in the door and online.
4. Salary must continue to support the few people that rely and depend on me for support.
5. Continue to Feed the Homeless.

Any contribution amount will HELP a GREAT Deal! You have the opportunity to help not only a small business but also a community. We understand that not everyone can help financially, but even if you can't, please help us to pass the word and let others know.   Share this with your friends and families you think will love to support the project and keep us in BUSSINESS!  You have the power to change LIVES!

Thank you in advance for your SUPPORT and GENEROSITY!