Help us keep the dream of Proper Provisions alive!

Hey y’all,

My name is John Abernathy. I’m a Chef, Husband, and Father, and for the past five years I’ve been pouring my heart into a dream called Proper Provisions.

I started this journey in Nashville, TN, as a private chef and catering business, and in 2024 I expanded into my hometown of Lincolnton, NC, opening a small storefront where we now serve our community with fresh, scratch-made food.

At Proper Provisions, we do things the old-fashioned way—with care and with love:

• From-scratch breads for every sandwich

• Grab-and-go snacks prepared daily

• Fresh pasta available for pre-order

• A made-to-order menu full of seasonal flavors

• Catering & private chef services for any occasion

This business has been my dream come true, and every dish we create is meant to bring people together.

-The Challenge We’re Facing-

From the outside, it may look like we’re thriving—but behind the scenes, it’s been a real struggle.

We’ve worked tirelessly to keep the lights on, the rent paid, and staff employed. On top of that, balancing the demands of running a business with supporting my family has been harder than I ever imagined.

Like many small businesses, we’ve been hit with rising costs, unpredictable sales, and personal financial strain. There have been incredible successes along the way, but also plenty of setbacks.

The truth is: we’re at a point where we can’t keep going without help.

-Why We’re Asking for Your Support?!-

I don’t want to walk away from all this hard work without exhausting every possible outlet to save this dream. Asking for help is completely outside my comfort zone, but I believe in Proper Provisions and the community we serve too much to give up now.

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Keeping our doors open

• Covering essential costs like rent and utilities

• Supporting our small but dedicated staff

• Ensuring we can continue providing fresh, homemade meals for our community

Even the smallest gift makes a difference:

• $25 helps us stock fresh ingredients

• $100 helps cover utilities to keep our ovens running

• $500 helps us keep a team member on payroll

-The Impact of Your Support-

Supporting Proper Provisions means more than saving a small business. It means:

• Preserving a dream built on five years of sweat, sacrifice, and love

• Sustaining local jobs and supporting local suppliers

• Keeping a community space alive where good food brings people together.

-From the Bottom of My Heart-

This isn’t easy to write. But I’m humbly asking for your support—whether that’s through a donation or by sharing this campaign with others who believe in helping small businesses survive.

Every penny will go directly into keeping Proper Provisions alive and growing. I’m committed to working as hard as ever to make sure this dream continues—for my family, for my team, and for everyone who believes in what we do.

Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting, and thank you for keeping our table open for the community.

❤️

John Abernathy

Chef & Founder, Proper Provisions