My Antique Depot Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Thank you for taking the time to visit my GoFundMe page.
About Me:
My name is Amanda Kinslow, I just turned 29 on August 7th and I have been living and doing commerce in the antique malls of Ellicott City for the last 7 years. I'm an EC girl through and through, attending all Howard County Public Schools (St. John's Lane (you're the school for me!), Dunloggin Middle (go Dragons!) and Mt. Hebron (Vikings 2005 for the win).
What started out as a hobby for me, collecting antiques and vintage goods, turned into a viable business that has allowed me to achieve many of my life goals and discover my talents and identity in the process.
When I graduated from Towson University with a degree in English Literature I moved back to Ellicott City as an unemployed recent graduate. I took odd jobs tutoring and waiting tables. Then in 2010, I started selling on the first floor of Taylor's Antique Mall in Booth 109. By the time Taylor's closed at the end of 2013, I had saved up enough money from the business to move out of my parents house for good and start adulting! Through the antique dealing scene of Ellicott City, I have forged many great friendships with other dealers, bar hanger outers, and other business owners. Being an antique dealer has come to shape my identity. When I meet new people, a love and appreciation of history and vintage items is something we often share, no matter how young or how old.
In October 2012, I moved the business to Maryland Avenue inside the basement of the Antique Depot. By 2014, I had started a "jobby job"/ career (for REAL adults) as an asssistant special education teacher. I continued to run my business up until the flood. The business is not only spiritually close to my heart but has also financially helped to supplement my bills and quite frankly, allow me to stay in the career I love in which the greatest rewards are not always measured in paychecks.
About my needs:
After making all of the rounds at the Howard County senior center and talking to staff about resources, I am finding myself in a unique position in which I rent part of a larger building and therefore don't qualify for the types of assistances currently being offered. (I was not smart and did not insure my goods and even had I, I am not sure a). I would have still made any money after paying that insurance or b). that would pay out in the event of a flood.
Prior to the flood, I had just purchased a very used minivan and repaired it extensively so that I could move to a larger location in the building so that I could start dealing in larger pieces like furniture. It was a bit of a significant financial risk on my part that I was hoping would be offset by an increase in revenue. That didn't really pan out great...
Currently about 30-40% of my inventory is destroyed as of my birthday Aug 7th when I threw it all away. Ironically, it was a great birthday in that I saw a lot more of my friends than I would have and everyone was pulling together to fix this amazing thing me love that is Historic Ellicott City. I will always remember that day fondly.
Currently, the building is structurally sound and only the basement dealers have had merchandise destroyed. Because I have been unable to remove the salvagable pieces and only throw things in the dumpsters, I expect mold will continute to grow on the unharmed pieces (It will be five days since I last saw them when I am allowed in for further assessment on Saturday) Saturday and Sunday (Aug 13-14) remain cleanup and non retrival days so I will still have to leave the goods to rot.
I am hoping to raise $2500 to be able to rebuild my store and inventory and relocate the business so I do not have to close something I love so dearly as a result of this natural disaster.
Thank You for your time,
Amanda
Please Note: I do not speak on behalf of the management or owners of the Antique Depot, only my expereince in regards to my own business located inside it and desire with assistance to recoup my own personal loss.
About Me:
My name is Amanda Kinslow, I just turned 29 on August 7th and I have been living and doing commerce in the antique malls of Ellicott City for the last 7 years. I'm an EC girl through and through, attending all Howard County Public Schools (St. John's Lane (you're the school for me!), Dunloggin Middle (go Dragons!) and Mt. Hebron (Vikings 2005 for the win).
What started out as a hobby for me, collecting antiques and vintage goods, turned into a viable business that has allowed me to achieve many of my life goals and discover my talents and identity in the process.
When I graduated from Towson University with a degree in English Literature I moved back to Ellicott City as an unemployed recent graduate. I took odd jobs tutoring and waiting tables. Then in 2010, I started selling on the first floor of Taylor's Antique Mall in Booth 109. By the time Taylor's closed at the end of 2013, I had saved up enough money from the business to move out of my parents house for good and start adulting! Through the antique dealing scene of Ellicott City, I have forged many great friendships with other dealers, bar hanger outers, and other business owners. Being an antique dealer has come to shape my identity. When I meet new people, a love and appreciation of history and vintage items is something we often share, no matter how young or how old.
In October 2012, I moved the business to Maryland Avenue inside the basement of the Antique Depot. By 2014, I had started a "jobby job"/ career (for REAL adults) as an asssistant special education teacher. I continued to run my business up until the flood. The business is not only spiritually close to my heart but has also financially helped to supplement my bills and quite frankly, allow me to stay in the career I love in which the greatest rewards are not always measured in paychecks.
About my needs:
After making all of the rounds at the Howard County senior center and talking to staff about resources, I am finding myself in a unique position in which I rent part of a larger building and therefore don't qualify for the types of assistances currently being offered. (I was not smart and did not insure my goods and even had I, I am not sure a). I would have still made any money after paying that insurance or b). that would pay out in the event of a flood.
Prior to the flood, I had just purchased a very used minivan and repaired it extensively so that I could move to a larger location in the building so that I could start dealing in larger pieces like furniture. It was a bit of a significant financial risk on my part that I was hoping would be offset by an increase in revenue. That didn't really pan out great...
Currently about 30-40% of my inventory is destroyed as of my birthday Aug 7th when I threw it all away. Ironically, it was a great birthday in that I saw a lot more of my friends than I would have and everyone was pulling together to fix this amazing thing me love that is Historic Ellicott City. I will always remember that day fondly.
Currently, the building is structurally sound and only the basement dealers have had merchandise destroyed. Because I have been unable to remove the salvagable pieces and only throw things in the dumpsters, I expect mold will continute to grow on the unharmed pieces (It will be five days since I last saw them when I am allowed in for further assessment on Saturday) Saturday and Sunday (Aug 13-14) remain cleanup and non retrival days so I will still have to leave the goods to rot.
I am hoping to raise $2500 to be able to rebuild my store and inventory and relocate the business so I do not have to close something I love so dearly as a result of this natural disaster.
Thank You for your time,
Amanda
Please Note: I do not speak on behalf of the management or owners of the Antique Depot, only my expereince in regards to my own business located inside it and desire with assistance to recoup my own personal loss.
Organizer
Amanda Kinslow
Organizer
Ellicott City, MD
