Community Pillar: Help Carlos Keep His Business

Hello. My name is Kylie, and today I'm reaching out to support my neighbor and local dry cleaner Carlos.

The last few years have been tough for us all, but the pandemic has been especially hard on small businesses in East Harlem. Many had too few employees to qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that helped larger companies stay afloat. Small business owners – like Carlos – often had to pull from their personal savings to keep their businesses open.

For nearly three decades, Carlos has offered free dry cleaning to anyone preparing their outfit for a job interview. During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, he offered free services to countless customers for years while they were getting on their feet. Every time I enter his store, Carlos treats me as a friend and displays the type of kindness that holds neighborhoods together.

Carlos has given so generously to the community, but now he needs our support. His personal savings are nearly exhausted, and he may have to close his store within weeks if he's not able to cover his February rent and other operating expenses. Without his business, a large section of East Harlem will no longer have access to tailoring and dry cleaning, and our neighborhood will lose one of its most benevolent residents.

Will you help me help Carlos continue providing this vital service to our community?