KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE - LET'S PRETEND'S LUCKY 7THYR
Donation protected
We are Let's Pretend. January 21st marks 7 years
that we have been open to the public. We wanted to bring PRETEND play back to children. There is so much technology out there that children are losing the ability to be imaginative, whimsy, creative and young. The idea to start Let's Pretend originated as a culmination of many experiences that the owners had with their own children and observing other children in the community - Children know technology, but NOT basic uninhibited pretend play. About 15 years ago, Kerri started a binder of ideas - What IF we could provide a safe, low tech, home like environment with authentic, real items that children could play with and pretend with ......getting away from "screens" for awhile and really playing? It wouldn't have to be high tech or "state of the art" materials - just basic, child size, REAL items that would allow children to really express their creativity.....But how would this work? Well, it took years of writing ideas in a binder, researching other hands on play center models (there are NOT many), writing business plans, and collecting items and information. Then, because of an unfortunate loss of employment, LET'S PRETEND became less of a dream and more of a reality. Because there were not any exact business models to use, we were unable to procure any business grants or loans, so we just used our own money to make the dream a reality. Within a month of making the decision and the gigantic leap of faith, everything just started falling into place. That was OCTOBER of 2011. And everything we have here and all of the concepts, ideas, policies and materials came from us.
Seven years later, we are still here.....but barely. The economy is even less forgiving now than it was seven years ago, but we are NOT willing to quit yet. With every new Pretender that comes here and says "This is a GREAT idea" and every returning PRETENDER filling up their 4th and 5th punch cards, we KNOW that we have to keep the dream alive. We would like this to be our LUCKY 7th year. HOW?
We have decided to take another giant leap of faith and move to a different location. A NEWER, more modern and less run down facility....A location that is visible and accessible to more families - one that has modern day amenities, restaurants and modern conveniences very nearby. A location that is newer, up to code. A location that will enable us to offer more hours to visit, adding some evening hours, too. A location that will allow us to offer our same "basic" concepts and policies, but will offer MORE to our PRETENDERS. In order to make this happen, we have to coordinate lease terms between two locations, purchase more equipment and replace existing items, purchase duplicates of some items because our space will be larger in the new location, set up new utility accounts to ensure both locations will be functioning during the move, set up payroll (which we have never had before) and pay two rents simultaneously. We are unable to get lines of credit or business loans because we do not fit the criterion for these financial entities. We are just a partnership - a family that wants to continue our dream, for YOU (the families) and for our family. We have put a ton of our own money and time....sweat equity into this and are not willing to give up YET. Both Rick and Kerri work other jobs in order to keep everything afloat. We would LOVE to be able to continue to bring Let's Pretend to YOU, but we need help to make the timing of this transition WORK. It really is about the timing. We COULD apply for grants, but they take time and we are almost out of time. We have to be able to coordinate paying the rents, the utilities, etc for two places at once. We have to continue operating at our existing location which will continue to ADD to utility bills (which are astronomical here) while starting new accounts at the new location so we can begin preparing it for the move. Our goal is to be open at the new location THIS SPRING. In the meantime, we will continue to serve the parties and groups already reserved. ....So, because we do not PROFIT enough to show lenders that we can borrow , we have to rely on ourselves (again) to make it happen.....With LIFE happening all around us, and the current economy, and the monumental undertaking that MOVING is, LET'S PRETEND needs YOUR help to keep the dream alive. PLEASE consider donating to our GoFundMe Campaign so that we can make this happen for YOU, for new PRETENDERS, for people that really believe in us providing a FUN, new, clean, safe place for PRETENDING and creative play. We will use the funds to make this happen AGAIN. We will be keeping track of donations and for those donations that are NOT anonymous, we will offer free passes to our new location and other Thank You's......because we TRULY appreciate your support.
Remember:WE are NOT a non profit.
We have no private investors or grants. We are a family with 4 children and we want to continue to bring the art of pretending to other families for years to come. All donations received through this campaign will aid in our ability to continue to operate LET'S PRETEND and create a newer space with more hours to accommodate more of you. And AGAIN,it's all about the timing. Ending one lease the right way while starting a newer one. Gofundme makes us accountable for the donations. WE are totally overwhelmed by this idea and by the wonderful possibilities this change could bring.
What should you donate? Donate whatever you can. We know that it is a terrible economy for most people and there is not a lot of extra money to be had (hence, our need to do this). As a starting point, Think of YOUR family attending LET'S PRETEND for one day of play-what would that cost at $7 a person? (both children AND adults).
We can tell you it will be on a main street, in a plaza with restaurants and other conveniences, one mile from a major highway.
We can also tell you that we will continue to allow you to leave and come back after lunch, and you can bring food in with you. We can tell you we will add more hours ,and we will TRY to continue to offer PRIVATE parties,but that will totally depend on our everyday play traffic. We can tell you that we will still operate with the idea that it is a low tech hands on center and upcycled and recycled items will still be the majority of what we provide for play. And finally , we can tell you that we will continue to offer the all day play admission.($7 per person is not hourly).
This is year 7. PLEASE Help us to continue to Bring back the Art of Pretending for years to come....
that we have been open to the public. We wanted to bring PRETEND play back to children. There is so much technology out there that children are losing the ability to be imaginative, whimsy, creative and young. The idea to start Let's Pretend originated as a culmination of many experiences that the owners had with their own children and observing other children in the community - Children know technology, but NOT basic uninhibited pretend play. About 15 years ago, Kerri started a binder of ideas - What IF we could provide a safe, low tech, home like environment with authentic, real items that children could play with and pretend with ......getting away from "screens" for awhile and really playing? It wouldn't have to be high tech or "state of the art" materials - just basic, child size, REAL items that would allow children to really express their creativity.....But how would this work? Well, it took years of writing ideas in a binder, researching other hands on play center models (there are NOT many), writing business plans, and collecting items and information. Then, because of an unfortunate loss of employment, LET'S PRETEND became less of a dream and more of a reality. Because there were not any exact business models to use, we were unable to procure any business grants or loans, so we just used our own money to make the dream a reality. Within a month of making the decision and the gigantic leap of faith, everything just started falling into place. That was OCTOBER of 2011. And everything we have here and all of the concepts, ideas, policies and materials came from us.
Seven years later, we are still here.....but barely. The economy is even less forgiving now than it was seven years ago, but we are NOT willing to quit yet. With every new Pretender that comes here and says "This is a GREAT idea" and every returning PRETENDER filling up their 4th and 5th punch cards, we KNOW that we have to keep the dream alive. We would like this to be our LUCKY 7th year. HOW?
We have decided to take another giant leap of faith and move to a different location. A NEWER, more modern and less run down facility....A location that is visible and accessible to more families - one that has modern day amenities, restaurants and modern conveniences very nearby. A location that is newer, up to code. A location that will enable us to offer more hours to visit, adding some evening hours, too. A location that will allow us to offer our same "basic" concepts and policies, but will offer MORE to our PRETENDERS. In order to make this happen, we have to coordinate lease terms between two locations, purchase more equipment and replace existing items, purchase duplicates of some items because our space will be larger in the new location, set up new utility accounts to ensure both locations will be functioning during the move, set up payroll (which we have never had before) and pay two rents simultaneously. We are unable to get lines of credit or business loans because we do not fit the criterion for these financial entities. We are just a partnership - a family that wants to continue our dream, for YOU (the families) and for our family. We have put a ton of our own money and time....sweat equity into this and are not willing to give up YET. Both Rick and Kerri work other jobs in order to keep everything afloat. We would LOVE to be able to continue to bring Let's Pretend to YOU, but we need help to make the timing of this transition WORK. It really is about the timing. We COULD apply for grants, but they take time and we are almost out of time. We have to be able to coordinate paying the rents, the utilities, etc for two places at once. We have to continue operating at our existing location which will continue to ADD to utility bills (which are astronomical here) while starting new accounts at the new location so we can begin preparing it for the move. Our goal is to be open at the new location THIS SPRING. In the meantime, we will continue to serve the parties and groups already reserved. ....So, because we do not PROFIT enough to show lenders that we can borrow , we have to rely on ourselves (again) to make it happen.....With LIFE happening all around us, and the current economy, and the monumental undertaking that MOVING is, LET'S PRETEND needs YOUR help to keep the dream alive. PLEASE consider donating to our GoFundMe Campaign so that we can make this happen for YOU, for new PRETENDERS, for people that really believe in us providing a FUN, new, clean, safe place for PRETENDING and creative play. We will use the funds to make this happen AGAIN. We will be keeping track of donations and for those donations that are NOT anonymous, we will offer free passes to our new location and other Thank You's......because we TRULY appreciate your support.
Remember:WE are NOT a non profit.
We have no private investors or grants. We are a family with 4 children and we want to continue to bring the art of pretending to other families for years to come. All donations received through this campaign will aid in our ability to continue to operate LET'S PRETEND and create a newer space with more hours to accommodate more of you. And AGAIN,it's all about the timing. Ending one lease the right way while starting a newer one. Gofundme makes us accountable for the donations. WE are totally overwhelmed by this idea and by the wonderful possibilities this change could bring.
What should you donate? Donate whatever you can. We know that it is a terrible economy for most people and there is not a lot of extra money to be had (hence, our need to do this). As a starting point, Think of YOUR family attending LET'S PRETEND for one day of play-what would that cost at $7 a person? (both children AND adults).
We can tell you it will be on a main street, in a plaza with restaurants and other conveniences, one mile from a major highway.
We can also tell you that we will continue to allow you to leave and come back after lunch, and you can bring food in with you. We can tell you we will add more hours ,and we will TRY to continue to offer PRIVATE parties,but that will totally depend on our everyday play traffic. We can tell you that we will still operate with the idea that it is a low tech hands on center and upcycled and recycled items will still be the majority of what we provide for play. And finally , we can tell you that we will continue to offer the all day play admission.($7 per person is not hourly).
This is year 7. PLEASE Help us to continue to Bring back the Art of Pretending for years to come....
Organizer
Kerri Doyle Meyer
Organizer
Middletown, PA