Donate to Restore Fairview's Beloved Cafe

Hello. My name is Samantha. Let me tell you a story about a small town cafe located in Fairview, IL. The Fairview Cafe was owned and ran by a wonderful lady named Kim S. when I was a child. As a child my mother and aunt worked in this little cafe. Kim was a kind soul who helped everyone in the community. When I had my first child and became a single mom Kim took me on as well. I worked for her for 2 years and was able to provide for my daughter. Kim suffered with major health problems and eventually my Aunt (also named Kim) would buy the cafe. Aunt Kim owned the cafe for 10 years. During that time she would go on to employee her own daughters, nieces (my self included), sisters and friends. She would do everything in her power to also support the community. Countless bake sales have taken place to raise money for people of the community in their time of need. The doors would close early to encourage people to attend community events where food would be sold. Benefits would be donated to. Elderly people in town would have food hand delivered to their doorstep. When covid hit and the country went into shut downs my Aunt sat a table up at the front door and continued to cook and serve the farmers and peoples in town. She took a major financial hit however refused to let the business go under. The building suffered severe damage during a storm and she still found a way to repair it and open once again. The building is old. It has it flaws and has been in need of repairs since I can remember. But it still stands and it still welcomes people from all over. It’s small but mighty and has been a staple in the community always. My Aunt recently sold the business to her daughter and son in law. Her daughter (my cousin) Cassie also owns a cake business. See we grew up together. As close as sisters. We watched hour mothers spear head benefits, donations, helping anyone in need. Not only in their small town but all over. And Cassie has followed those footsteps. Helping where she can and donating to the causes. Cassie and her husband Seth traveled while he was in the military. They lived in places like Alaska and Curaçao but ended up right back in the small town of Fairview. When you are born and raised in small towns there is just a part of you that can never leave. Cassie had a dream and that dream was to continue what her mom has started. Taking on a business is a risk but it is an even bigger risk in a small town where you don’t know day to day if you’ll make enough money to keep the doors open. Cassie and Seth are ready for that risk because we were raised that the reward of being a part of that small town is worth every risk.

Here comes the reason for this gofundme. Most of know when you begin the adventure of business owning there will be issues that need to be handled. Because this building is so old in order for the health department to allow Cassie and Seth to fully take on the business repairs will need to take place. Structurally the building is standing fine. However as we know and expect the health department has requirements. There is a portion of the back of the building that will need redone. Walls and floors will need to be replaced. The cafe has always passed its inspections in the past and the health department had never mentioned issues with this back room. The room they are wanting remodeled is used for storage of extra items like holiday decor and tables as well has the walk in cooler. It is a fairly large open room.

Cassie is struggling to ask for help. We were raised to help when we can but taught to provide for ourselves. We come from a family of very strong women. Women that find it difficult to ask for anything even when we know we could use it.

Please help in any amount you can. Even a dollar gets them closer to being able to take on their dream.

Thank you,

A cousin that wants to see her cousin’s dreams come true