La Colombe Andersonville Pandemic Relief

Andersonville is very much a neighborhood-- we see the same people as we run our errands on Clark street, we know which strangers share the same morning commute as us, we are very unified here on this stretch of clark. As baristas at La Colombe, we know many of you, cherish the relationships we have with you, and enjoy being able to be such a pillar in the community.


As many people know, our neighborhood has not been immune to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past week we have seen many small businesses, bars, cafes, and restaurants shut their doors. It is an uncertain time for everyone, and as we navigate this unfamiliar time ahead we are reaching out to our community to ask for a bit of help.



Over the past 5 days, every single La Colombe barista has seen their income dry up. All of us are working artists and educators outside of the cafe (more details on this below) and unfortunately, due to the circumstances, we have all lost all of our current and future work that we rely on outside of the cafe. We hope that these opportunities will be able to return to us once this is all over, but for now there is no guarantee, and no pay. 


In addition, as of today, La Colombe has officially closed the doors on all of its cafes for at least 2 weeks. During this time we will be paid for 2 weeks at our hourly rate, but that’s all the company can afford. That’s where this ask comes in.


Depending on the season, tips from customers make up 30-40% of our monthly income. During this time, La Colombe is understandably only able to pay us our hourly rate. We are reaching out to try and retain some of our tip-based income that has already been lost, as we strive to keep ourselves afloat through these times. 


If you are able to donate, please know that we are so grateful, and we are looking forward to saying “thank-you” in person once it is safe to open our doors again. All received donations will be split equally amongst our team of 12.


We are asking for $6,500, as that would be around $500 per person, after GoFundme fees. $500 is on average what one hourly barista makes in tips between cash/card during one two week period, so it certainly won’t cover all of the loss, but it will help provide a good foundation for all of us as we get back on our feet after this. 


Some more details on the other work we do and sources of income we have lost:

Eric is a voice over actor.

Cece is an acrylic painter and illustrator.

Adam is a musician and director. 

Kaitlyn is a teaching artist, performer, and freelance personal trainer.

Terry is an actor and playwright. 

Christopher is a musician and sound engineer.

Kaylyn is a teaching artist, writer, and actor. 

Alice is a musician and photographer.

Hallie is an actor, painter, and producer. 

Alex G. is a graduate student, new to Chicago.  

Alex K. is a musician and sound engineer. 

Kristen is an actor and director. 


Thank you, and be safe and well during these times!


Lots of love,

The Andersonville Team