Giving Back to the Burnett's

I've known Bre for quite a few years now! I'm sure most of you know, her husband and her own The local Bowling Alley in Big Rapids (The Gate) and recently opened up BR Scoops this past summer. Her strong willed mindset and determination has always inspired me! It's an honor to know her and her family! Our boys have played sports together, we have supported them in both of their small businesses, and always have cheered their family on from the sidelines. Unfortunately, due to the governor setting ridiculous restrictions, they have fallen on extremely hard times. Bre and Danny are always doing what they can to support the community, and donate where they can!  I'd like to do something to flip the tables and give back to them! It's our turn, and I need help doing so!! 

I wanted to add a recent post of Bre's that really made a lump form in my throat...

"A letter to Ms. Gretchen Whitmer,
I am a business owner of not 1 but 2 small businesses in my hometown that I grew up in. The biggest one being a Bowling Alley, you know the one business you have managed to absolutely crush and destroy any chance of making it since this whole pandemic started back in March.
Now I’ve sat back and given you the benefit of the doubt time and time again. I told myself “It must be so hard being in her position” but then you kept going,
and going, and going, and going, to the point where you have completely bankrupt my entire business and put me and my family in horrible debt and days away from losing EVERY SINGLE THING I HAVE! I spent every single penny of my savings to purchase my businesses I even took out loans to get my businesses. I took the biggest risk I’ve ever taken in my life and dedicated myself to own and operate those businesses. That’s everyone’s dream right!? To be their own boss, to work for themselves to make their own schedule? Until you lose everything and get to watch it all go up in flames right in front of your eyes and are told you’re not allowed to have any water to put it out.

I have no more money to keep up with you. You have drained me. I have nothing left. Not even my pride anymore. I am not proud at all to call Michigan my home at this point. I’m on the verge of my home going into foreclosure, my car being repossessed, my credit is completely shot all because of YOU! I have had to make the most difficult decisions I will probably ever make again in my life. I can’t afford to pay ANYTHING, NOTHING AT ALL! BECAUSE OF YOU! Covid didn’t kill my business YOU DID! My business is how I pay my bills and support my family. MY FAMILY! My two small little boys who depend on me. And I depend on the money I make from my business to support those precious little humans I love so much. The only reason they get a Christmas this year is because of my family who have given me money. Do you have any idea how that feels as a mother!? As a provider!? I’m sure you don’t while you sit up on your thrown and watch us all literally die down here. You say you’re saving lives but what about the lives of these small business owners and their families and those employees!? You have not only ruined my life but all of my employees lives as well. Do you know how hard it is to not only struggle but to see the very people who have helped my business succeed also struggle and not be able to do anything about it!?
WHAT ABOUT US!?
I’ve followed your rules from day 1, I’ve done what you told me, I made it as safe as possible, I spent hundred of dollars on special cleaning products, had extra staff specifically clean, wore my mask, I made my patrons and staff wear masks, my whole family wore masks, I didn’t congregate in large groups, I didn’t see my family for thanksgiving, I didn’t go out, I stayed home like you said too. Now I’m not even going to get into me trying to apply for unemployment because I think we all know how that’s going. I even tried to apply for your tiny ass little grants that didn’t even touch a fraction of small business owners but that just wasn’t enough for you was it?

Do you know how infuriating it is to see WALMART AND MALLS AND ALL OF THESE BIG BOX STORES that house thousands of people on a daily basis being able to be open and be SWAMPED FOR THE HOLIDAYS BUT MY LITTLE SMALL TOWN BOWLING ALLEY CAN’T BE OPEN BECAUSE IT’S TO DANGEROUS!? Do you know how stupid you sound?! You say “hang in there” but how am I suppose to do that when you’ve cut my arms off?! You tell me I can open but with the most ridiculous restrictions that make it impossible for me to even make a penny. It’s like you dangled food in front of a starving dog and ripped it away with a smile.
SHAME ON YOU!! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU! And yes I’m screaming because I AM MAD! I AM SO ANGRY! How dare you be the decision maker to have hundreds of thousands of people lose everything. I hope you enjoy your seat in the Oval Office, I hope this was all worth it for you. Because it sure in hell wasn’t worth it for the rest of us. But you keep thinking about you because that’s what being the Governor of a State is all about right “For The People, ALL OF THE PEOPLE”.

Sincerely,
A really really really BROKE and pissed off Michigan business owner. " 

Heartbreaking right ?? 

This is a hard time for SO many people. 

I'm asking for help to give this family some hope and relief any little bit will mean so much!!