- K
- A
Lisa Jo is my cousin. She is a wonderful, caring friend who wouldn't ask for anything from anyone. Lisa is a terrific mother, and loved by her nieces and nephews, her parents, her cousins (and her cousins' children!!), as well as her neighbors and business contacts. I am making this request...she is not.
Lisa is the sole owner and proprietor of Lisa Jo's All Things Sweet, a home-based professional bakery in Carbondale, CO. Her business has thrived in the competitive Aspen market for 15 years. She is an outgoing professional, and an awesome pastry chef, and has never had a problem finding or keeping customers...until now.
Several months ago, Lisa experienced great personal trauma (trust me: you do not want those details ). This has affected her ability to run her business. Suffering from anxiety and depression as a result, she hasn't been able to go out to seek new business or make deliveries, despite her exhaustive efforts. Her 80-year-old parents have helped as much as they can. But, understandably, customers want to meet with the actual baker to plan their cakes and cookies and other goodies for personal, group, or business events.
Topping it off, the Coronavirus now makes it impossible to do any business at all...she is not allowed to meet with new customers. Loyal customers she has had for over a decade cannot even order from her, because they are not allowed to throw parties or have corporate events requiring the catering she has done for years. This, of course, adds to her stress; as a result, her depression and anxiety have become crippling.
The one silver lining? ⛅The lack of available business provides a window of opportunity to heal her emotional wounds.
Lisa's parents (my sweet aunt and uncle living on teachers' pensions) have helped her gain admittance to a 2-month, residential psychological health program at All Points North Lodge in Edwards, Colorado. This is a private-pay facility, but her medical team have assessed it to be the best chance for Lisa to heal and recover her once-thriving business...and her life. Her parents are taking $80,000 out of their retirement savings to pay for this, but Lisa still has a mortgage, other healthcare expenses, and debt to pay or she will lose everything.
Lisa is doing well at this wonderful facility, but she cannot escape her very-real fears of financial ruin as a result of the trauma and the extra threat the Coronavirus presents to her business. If she doesn't find a way to pay for her expenses, she will also lose her children because the courts will naturally grant custody to the parent who can keep them fed.
I am asking for $80,000 to help her pay off debt that threatens to close her business as well as repay what she can to her parents. I know they are happy to provide this opportunity to heal, but who has that kind of money to spend at this point in life? (Updated to reflect: home has not sold.)
I have not exaggerated any of this. I am not skilled at asking for money, either, because our family stressed independence. I am only hoping for an opportunity for my loving cousin to get back on her feet (and for the Glenwood Springs/Aspen area to keep a beloved, established business)!
Please consider giving what you can. I know we all are affected by the economic problems caused by the Coronavirus. Can you imagine needing to be hospitalized during this time, unable to make ANY money at all? The thought terrifies me, and it terrifies Lisa and her parents and her kids.
We all would be most grateful for any assistance you could provide. Lisa would certainly find relief, and I would like to think that just the fact that generous people are giving assistance would, in itself, help her heal.
Thank you.
Lisa is the sole owner and proprietor of Lisa Jo's All Things Sweet, a home-based professional bakery in Carbondale, CO. Her business has thrived in the competitive Aspen market for 15 years. She is an outgoing professional, and an awesome pastry chef, and has never had a problem finding or keeping customers...until now.
Several months ago, Lisa experienced great personal trauma (trust me: you do not want those details ). This has affected her ability to run her business. Suffering from anxiety and depression as a result, she hasn't been able to go out to seek new business or make deliveries, despite her exhaustive efforts. Her 80-year-old parents have helped as much as they can. But, understandably, customers want to meet with the actual baker to plan their cakes and cookies and other goodies for personal, group, or business events.
Topping it off, the Coronavirus now makes it impossible to do any business at all...she is not allowed to meet with new customers. Loyal customers she has had for over a decade cannot even order from her, because they are not allowed to throw parties or have corporate events requiring the catering she has done for years. This, of course, adds to her stress; as a result, her depression and anxiety have become crippling.
The one silver lining? ⛅The lack of available business provides a window of opportunity to heal her emotional wounds.
Lisa's parents (my sweet aunt and uncle living on teachers' pensions) have helped her gain admittance to a 2-month, residential psychological health program at All Points North Lodge in Edwards, Colorado. This is a private-pay facility, but her medical team have assessed it to be the best chance for Lisa to heal and recover her once-thriving business...and her life. Her parents are taking $80,000 out of their retirement savings to pay for this, but Lisa still has a mortgage, other healthcare expenses, and debt to pay or she will lose everything.
Lisa is doing well at this wonderful facility, but she cannot escape her very-real fears of financial ruin as a result of the trauma and the extra threat the Coronavirus presents to her business. If she doesn't find a way to pay for her expenses, she will also lose her children because the courts will naturally grant custody to the parent who can keep them fed.
I am asking for $80,000 to help her pay off debt that threatens to close her business as well as repay what she can to her parents. I know they are happy to provide this opportunity to heal, but who has that kind of money to spend at this point in life? (Updated to reflect: home has not sold.)
I have not exaggerated any of this. I am not skilled at asking for money, either, because our family stressed independence. I am only hoping for an opportunity for my loving cousin to get back on her feet (and for the Glenwood Springs/Aspen area to keep a beloved, established business)!
Please consider giving what you can. I know we all are affected by the economic problems caused by the Coronavirus. Can you imagine needing to be hospitalized during this time, unable to make ANY money at all? The thought terrifies me, and it terrifies Lisa and her parents and her kids.
We all would be most grateful for any assistance you could provide. Lisa would certainly find relief, and I would like to think that just the fact that generous people are giving assistance would, in itself, help her heal.
Thank you.