Save Mebane ONLY large Black owned retail store
Donation protected
To Our Dear Supporters,
these past six months have been devastating for all of us. Just about all of us know someone who is battling this horrible pandemic. On top of all the things we are trying to cope with, we also continue to confront racism and injustices. It has been extremely tough for many small businesses, especially Black and minority owned businesses due to the impact of COVID-19. I am appealing to you for support of a major community resource because the community is in jeopardy of losing an incredibly unique business in this area, Nandi Africa.
Three months after the grand opening of Nandi Africa, my small business, I was compelled to close for the next three months due to the covid-19 virus pandemic like every other small non-essential business. We had to make a heartbreaking decision protect the safety of my volunteers, immediate family and my extended family (the customers). During the time we were closed, we used our minimum sewing skills, to make free and discounted masks and hand sanitizer for essential workers, including the elderly and local and national nurses and other essential health professionals. We are appealing for funds to stay afloat until the economy opens again. Unfortunately, because we had only operated our business for a short time, we did not have a sufficient track record to qualify for the funding. We have also reached out to our business property owner seeking forbearance, to no avail. The property owner declined to forgive the back rent or to work out a plan to pay the accumulated three-month rent overtime in compliance with government regulations for landlords during the COVID pandemic. Instead, we were told that we have broken the lease and we should vacate the store immediately.
Nandi Africa is not just a retail store; it is a community space for providing a marketplace for diverse people can secure unique, African-culture items in a home-grown community environment or marketplace. The space is used to provide opportunities for small home-based cottage businesses and artisans to market their creations to the community. Nandi offers opportunities to people from all levels of society. Many of them depend on this business for their livelihoods. Women, young boys, and elderly people in Africa produce the products we sell (the clothes makers, the waist beads threaders, the arts makers). In the United states there are also locals’ artists/vendors who use the earning from selling their unique items here to help pay their bills as well. The people in Africa depend solely on whatever is sold at Nandi’s to feed themselves and their children as well as their entire families in some cases.
The population of the small town of Mebane, NC is growing. And, the number of people from diverse backgrounds is steadily growing as well. The opportunity to grow this business from its present location is excellent. This is really a “retail therapy” place. We treat our customers like family. Every first Saturday, we have something offer a community event to bring diverse community people together; from a wine and cheese events to life coaching, financial management and health awareness events. Nandi’s customers HAVE traveled great distances to shop in our store: from Northern Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Albany, NY.
We were planning to open a Yoni spa and a calendar of new community events before having to close because of COVID-19. Not reopening the ONLY and Largest Black Owned business in this area will not only impact employment locally, it will be devastating for so many others who have come to depend upon Nandi to put food on their tables. I am pleading to EVERYONE for help. PLEASE FIGHT alongside me to save this business.
Presently the rent is 18,000 but by August 1st, the rent owe will be 21,500. I have been working tirelessly, practically 7 days a week just to come up with the current rent by myself, but it is exceedingly difficult. I know this is a tough time for everyone, but without your help I know all will be lost. I am going to continue to fight to get forbearance for past due rent and to get the rent reduced. However, Nandi’s survival will depend on your willingness to make a financial contribution so that we can raise the amount to pay the back rent and keep the store open for business in its present location and the voluntary, pro bono help of a civil case lawyer to assist me with legal matters.
Those of you that have been knowing me for a while now, know that it is out of my character to ask for help. And many of you have been steadfast in your support of Nandi and pushing me to stand strong and fight.
Many of you told me to ask and it shall be given unto me. Therefore, I am asking for your help to raise $25,000. I will use your generous donations to pay off the rent owed and to re-hire two staff. The funds will also be used toward building Nandi’s online presence. This will include re-branding and promotion of the store. Finally, I will use the rest of the funds to enhance the community gathering space; improving the heating/cooling system - which is very much needed, and purchasing a projector, laptop and extra chairs for our monthly events.
No donation is too small! In addition to your gift, you can help by spreading the word that Nandi Africa is still open. I am also asking you to kindly keep coming to the store, as well as the online store; www.nandiafrica.com to keep this going and continue SPREADING the word around: We are all #NandiStrong. We can do this.
Nandi’s PROMISE to our supporters: EXTRA 30% - 40% off most items in the store for six months, FREE health awareness, financial management, and group classes and extra 25% off on our one on one coaching sessions. This is our promise to all of you. I know this is not an easy task, but I know this can be done. So, from the bottom of my I want to thank you in advance. When all of this is over, we will celebrate. It is about LOVE - it is the Nandi Africa way!
Love,
Esteria White of Nandi Africa
these past six months have been devastating for all of us. Just about all of us know someone who is battling this horrible pandemic. On top of all the things we are trying to cope with, we also continue to confront racism and injustices. It has been extremely tough for many small businesses, especially Black and minority owned businesses due to the impact of COVID-19. I am appealing to you for support of a major community resource because the community is in jeopardy of losing an incredibly unique business in this area, Nandi Africa.
Three months after the grand opening of Nandi Africa, my small business, I was compelled to close for the next three months due to the covid-19 virus pandemic like every other small non-essential business. We had to make a heartbreaking decision protect the safety of my volunteers, immediate family and my extended family (the customers). During the time we were closed, we used our minimum sewing skills, to make free and discounted masks and hand sanitizer for essential workers, including the elderly and local and national nurses and other essential health professionals. We are appealing for funds to stay afloat until the economy opens again. Unfortunately, because we had only operated our business for a short time, we did not have a sufficient track record to qualify for the funding. We have also reached out to our business property owner seeking forbearance, to no avail. The property owner declined to forgive the back rent or to work out a plan to pay the accumulated three-month rent overtime in compliance with government regulations for landlords during the COVID pandemic. Instead, we were told that we have broken the lease and we should vacate the store immediately.
Nandi Africa is not just a retail store; it is a community space for providing a marketplace for diverse people can secure unique, African-culture items in a home-grown community environment or marketplace. The space is used to provide opportunities for small home-based cottage businesses and artisans to market their creations to the community. Nandi offers opportunities to people from all levels of society. Many of them depend on this business for their livelihoods. Women, young boys, and elderly people in Africa produce the products we sell (the clothes makers, the waist beads threaders, the arts makers). In the United states there are also locals’ artists/vendors who use the earning from selling their unique items here to help pay their bills as well. The people in Africa depend solely on whatever is sold at Nandi’s to feed themselves and their children as well as their entire families in some cases.
The population of the small town of Mebane, NC is growing. And, the number of people from diverse backgrounds is steadily growing as well. The opportunity to grow this business from its present location is excellent. This is really a “retail therapy” place. We treat our customers like family. Every first Saturday, we have something offer a community event to bring diverse community people together; from a wine and cheese events to life coaching, financial management and health awareness events. Nandi’s customers HAVE traveled great distances to shop in our store: from Northern Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Albany, NY.
We were planning to open a Yoni spa and a calendar of new community events before having to close because of COVID-19. Not reopening the ONLY and Largest Black Owned business in this area will not only impact employment locally, it will be devastating for so many others who have come to depend upon Nandi to put food on their tables. I am pleading to EVERYONE for help. PLEASE FIGHT alongside me to save this business.
Presently the rent is 18,000 but by August 1st, the rent owe will be 21,500. I have been working tirelessly, practically 7 days a week just to come up with the current rent by myself, but it is exceedingly difficult. I know this is a tough time for everyone, but without your help I know all will be lost. I am going to continue to fight to get forbearance for past due rent and to get the rent reduced. However, Nandi’s survival will depend on your willingness to make a financial contribution so that we can raise the amount to pay the back rent and keep the store open for business in its present location and the voluntary, pro bono help of a civil case lawyer to assist me with legal matters.
Those of you that have been knowing me for a while now, know that it is out of my character to ask for help. And many of you have been steadfast in your support of Nandi and pushing me to stand strong and fight.
Many of you told me to ask and it shall be given unto me. Therefore, I am asking for your help to raise $25,000. I will use your generous donations to pay off the rent owed and to re-hire two staff. The funds will also be used toward building Nandi’s online presence. This will include re-branding and promotion of the store. Finally, I will use the rest of the funds to enhance the community gathering space; improving the heating/cooling system - which is very much needed, and purchasing a projector, laptop and extra chairs for our monthly events.
No donation is too small! In addition to your gift, you can help by spreading the word that Nandi Africa is still open. I am also asking you to kindly keep coming to the store, as well as the online store; www.nandiafrica.com to keep this going and continue SPREADING the word around: We are all #NandiStrong. We can do this.
Nandi’s PROMISE to our supporters: EXTRA 30% - 40% off most items in the store for six months, FREE health awareness, financial management, and group classes and extra 25% off on our one on one coaching sessions. This is our promise to all of you. I know this is not an easy task, but I know this can be done. So, from the bottom of my I want to thank you in advance. When all of this is over, we will celebrate. It is about LOVE - it is the Nandi Africa way!
Love,
Esteria White of Nandi Africa
Organizer
Esteria White
Organizer
Mebane, NC