Help Dotties Re-open!
Donation protected
Hello!
If you've ever walked through the doors of Dottie's, you can tell its built on love and appreciation for our community. Our bustling cafe has gone quiet, lights off, fridges emptied, freezers full. The lines have disappeared and the smell of bacon and coffee is now a distant memory. The laughter and smiles are waiting in the future... we hope.
On March17th we closed our doors after a week of terribly low numbers due to the outbreak of the Corona Virus in The Berkshires. It was a tough decision to make but for the safety of our staff and community, we felt it was the right thing to do. As a Mom of 3, I also felt it was the right decision for my family. For any of this to make any financial sense after all, I would have had to do the work myself. I didn't want to keep exposing myself and risk our family's health and well being.
After a long winter of spending our savings made from the bustling Berkshire summer of 2019, we've gone into this pandemic with no savings. Like many businesses, we were dependent on our cash flow from daily sales to puzzle our bills together until Summer 2020 shows up with its many gifts!
The cease of operation has left our cafe very distraught. We have to come up with $26,000 to open our doors safely. This will allow us a few thousand dollars in working capital to get going, as well as pay off some of our outstanding operating costs for the month of February and half of March, as well as our rent for March and April. We're hoping to bring back all 13 employees, who have since been on unemployment. If you've been to Dottie's you know how crucial this wonderful team is. As a business owner I can say that creating good, fun, safe and healthy work environment is one of my most coveted joys of being an employer. They are my family, my support and my motivation for doing this fundraiser.
We know there are loans available from various sources, and as we researched the options we decided to try to do this on our own. Interest charges and loaned money, during this time of uncertainty didn't feel like a safe choice. If its our last choice, then surely we will apply but we wanted to come here first.
We are eager to re-open, bring our staff back and to start serving our community, but we need your help. We need to bow our heads, open up our hearts and extend our humble hands and ask for your help.
We need approximately 347 donations of $75. We know this is a stretch but we believe in the power of community.... AND we cant reopen without it!
Speaking of the power of community, we have joined forces with Elegant Stitches on First Street in Pittsfield to bring you some incentive gifts with our Until We Meet Again, Love Dottie line. By helping Dottie's by purchasing one of our 3 incentive pieces, you are supporting two businesses during this crazy time.
3 Ways to Help Dottie's!
#1. If you would just like to throw some cash in our bank account to help us get through this and re-open when restrictions are lifted, click the Donate Now button on this page. Thank you in advance!
#2. A $75-$83 donation gets you one of our exclusive fundraising incentive garments. Click here to see your options.
#3. If $75 is out of your budget but you want to help, you can also purchase gift certificates in smaller denominations at https://downtownpittsfield.com
My beautiful, kind and generous grandmother Dot thanks you from the heavens above as do all of us at Dottie's.
If you've ever walked through the doors of Dottie's, you can tell its built on love and appreciation for our community. Our bustling cafe has gone quiet, lights off, fridges emptied, freezers full. The lines have disappeared and the smell of bacon and coffee is now a distant memory. The laughter and smiles are waiting in the future... we hope.
On March17th we closed our doors after a week of terribly low numbers due to the outbreak of the Corona Virus in The Berkshires. It was a tough decision to make but for the safety of our staff and community, we felt it was the right thing to do. As a Mom of 3, I also felt it was the right decision for my family. For any of this to make any financial sense after all, I would have had to do the work myself. I didn't want to keep exposing myself and risk our family's health and well being.
After a long winter of spending our savings made from the bustling Berkshire summer of 2019, we've gone into this pandemic with no savings. Like many businesses, we were dependent on our cash flow from daily sales to puzzle our bills together until Summer 2020 shows up with its many gifts!
The cease of operation has left our cafe very distraught. We have to come up with $26,000 to open our doors safely. This will allow us a few thousand dollars in working capital to get going, as well as pay off some of our outstanding operating costs for the month of February and half of March, as well as our rent for March and April. We're hoping to bring back all 13 employees, who have since been on unemployment. If you've been to Dottie's you know how crucial this wonderful team is. As a business owner I can say that creating good, fun, safe and healthy work environment is one of my most coveted joys of being an employer. They are my family, my support and my motivation for doing this fundraiser.
We know there are loans available from various sources, and as we researched the options we decided to try to do this on our own. Interest charges and loaned money, during this time of uncertainty didn't feel like a safe choice. If its our last choice, then surely we will apply but we wanted to come here first.
We are eager to re-open, bring our staff back and to start serving our community, but we need your help. We need to bow our heads, open up our hearts and extend our humble hands and ask for your help.
We need approximately 347 donations of $75. We know this is a stretch but we believe in the power of community.... AND we cant reopen without it!
Speaking of the power of community, we have joined forces with Elegant Stitches on First Street in Pittsfield to bring you some incentive gifts with our Until We Meet Again, Love Dottie line. By helping Dottie's by purchasing one of our 3 incentive pieces, you are supporting two businesses during this crazy time.
3 Ways to Help Dottie's!
#1. If you would just like to throw some cash in our bank account to help us get through this and re-open when restrictions are lifted, click the Donate Now button on this page. Thank you in advance!
#2. A $75-$83 donation gets you one of our exclusive fundraising incentive garments. Click here to see your options.
#3. If $75 is out of your budget but you want to help, you can also purchase gift certificates in smaller denominations at https://downtownpittsfield.com
My beautiful, kind and generous grandmother Dot thanks you from the heavens above as do all of us at Dottie's.
Organizer
Jessica Rufo
Organizer
Pittsfield, MA
