# Help Brandy Build "Nails to You" — A Dream Born from Hardship

## Campaign Goal: $15,000

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## My Story

My name is Brandy, and I've called the Methow Valley home for a long time. Many of you know me — from the restaurants, the hotels, the businesses I've run over the years. I've spent most of my adult life in service to this community, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

But life has a way of changing the path beneath your feet.

A few years ago, my knees gave out — both of them. I went through bilateral total knee replacement surgery, and while my knees are slowly improving, the road has been anything but easy. I still deal with daily pain, nerve numbness that runs from my knee to my ankle, and leg fatigue that makes the kind of physical, on-your-feet work I've always done nearly impossible to sustain.

I worked for a company that truly did everything they could to keep me. They were good to me, and I want to make that clear — there's no bad story there. But ultimately, my disability made it impossible for me to continue in the role, and I lost my job. That was a hard day.

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## The Dream That Kept Me Going

Somewhere in the middle of all of that — the surgeries, the recovery, the uncertainty — I fell in love with nails.

I know that might sound small, but it isn't. There is no nail salon in the Methow Valley. Not one. Our elderly residents in assisted living facilities, our brides, our hardworking locals — they either go without or drive hours for something as simple and meaningful as feeling cared for. I saw that gap, and I thought: I can fill that.

I started building a business concept called Nails to You — a mobile nail service that brings professional nail care directly to clients in their homes, facilities, and wherever they need me. My two Mini Australian Shepherds, Charlie and Roscoe, keep me company at home while I plan and dream and practice. My husband Kirt is by my side. And this valley — your valley — is exactly the community I want to serve.

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## What's Standing in the Way

To become a licensed nail technician in Washington State, I need to complete a certified training program. The closest school is Nail Spa Academy in Wenatchee — about an hour and a half from Twisp.

I've done everything I could to find funding on my own:

- I met with WorkSource hoping for vocational assistance — but I was told I don't qualify due to my age and because my household income, while modest, is just over their threshold. We're not wealthy. We're just a married couple trying to get by, and that combination closed that door.

- I've explored scholarships and grants and keep searching.

- I've looked into loans, but taking on debt while income is already stretched feels like a risk I can't responsibly take.

I'm not someone who asks for help easily. If you know me, you know that. But I've done the math, I've exhausted my options, and I'm asking now — because this dream is real, and I believe it will give back to this community far more than it takes.

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## Where Your Money Goes

Here's exactly what this funding covers:

| Expense | Estimated Cost |

|---|---|

| Nail Spa Academy Tuition | $7,500 |

| Hotel (3 nights/week, ~18–24 weeks) | $5,400 – $7,200 |

| Gas (Twisp ↔ Wenatchee, 3x/week) | $1,350 – $1,800 |

| Total | ~$14,250 – $16,500 |

A goal of $15,000 covers the core program and gives me a real shot at completing it without having to stop midway because I ran out of resources.

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## What Happens After

The moment I'm licensed, Nails to You opens its doors — or rather, comes to yours.

I plan to serve assisted living residents who haven't had a manicure in years. I plan to be there for brides on their wedding days right here in the valley. I plan to show up for the people of this community the way this community has always shown up for each other.

This isn't just a career change. It's a way to keep serving — just differently than before.

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## Thank You

Whether you can give $5 or $500, whether you share this with one friend or twenty — it matters more than I can say. I've given a lot of years to this valley, and I'm asking you to help me give it more.

With so much gratitude,

Brandy

Twisp, Washington — Methow Valley

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Every dollar goes directly toward training, travel, and housing costs during the program. No fluff, no extras — just what it takes to get licensed and get to work.