Help Small Business Owner Relocate

Laura Wirkkala has operated a sewing school in Arlington MA for nearly 20 years. She started out teaching in her home, and opened her first storefront in early 2007. At the beginning of the Covid shutdown, in March of 2020, Laura ran a volunteer mask making project, donating a total of over 11,000 masks, along with hundreds of scrub caps. She reopened classes in Sept of 2020, with an enrollment of 11 students per week. Prior to then, there were 55-60 students attending classes each week. Enrollments currently are only 27-30 students per week.

The cost of living and doing business in the Boston metro area keeps going up. And, Laura can no longer sustain a livelihood here. She has made a difficult decision to move out of state. That comes with it’s own expenses. And, having such a reduced income, (covid aid and grants helped keep her afloat in 2020-2021,) Laura’s debts are increasing every month she is here.

Laura will be moving back to the Upper Midwest at the end of March, 2023. It will take close to $18,000 to pay for the move and close out the business in Arlington.

If you would like to donate any amount to assist Laura to the next phase of her life and sewing school, it would be greatly appreciated.

Laura has been incurring more debt as she has prepared to move. Because she is unable to catch up, she is trying to rehome her two beautiful poodles and move out of MA to another, less expensive state. She has no idea where she is going to land yet.

Please consider contributing so Laura can afford to move, retry to restart her business, and retain her independence.