A note about this fundraiser: My name is Emily Kabalkin, and I’ve been a longtime friend and supporter of Madeline and Duane Park Patisserie. I created this GoFundMe after countless members of the community asked how they could help.

Anyone who knows Madeline knows she is not one to ask for a handout. But the legal fight to try to keep Duane Park Patisserie open came at a significant financial cost and depleted many of her resources.

Madeline’s story is also part of a larger one. As rents continue to rise and independent businesses struggle to compete, New York City—and Tribeca in particular—is losing many of the small, owner-operated establishments that helped make these neighborhoods what they are. For 34 years, Duane Park Patisserie was one of those places.

All funds raised will go directly to Madeline through Duane Park Patisserie’s business bank account and will help cover the substantial legal expenses associated with that effort.

Your generosity, kindness, and encouragement mean more than words can express.