Hello, and thank you for taking the time to visit our GoFundMe page. We are the caregivers and administrator of the small but mighty eQuality Homecare Cooperative in New Braunfels, Texas. Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment, seeking community support to overcome a significant challenge as we continue to fulfill our mission as a true worker-owned cooperative.

Who we are

Founded in 2014, we have provided ongoing caregiving services to our local Texas community for the last 10 years. Since our founding, eQuality caregivers have provided over 80 thousand hours of care to over 146 community members.

Once having as many as 13 members, eQuality is now completely run by three member-owners. Colette LeMore has been a loyal co-op member since 2016 and for the last 8 years has been not just a dedicated caregiver for eQuality clients, but also for her own family members. Gabriela Medina joined the co-op in 2020, and proudly supports her family of 7 with her work as a professional caregiver. Lucha Silva, the current administrator and president, has been a member since 2015, spreading her passion for caregiving and worker cooperatives as a path to economic justice for the working class.

eQuality improves quality of life for our community’s elders, assisting them to remain in their homes and thrive even when faced with unexpected changes to their health and mobility. But our mission goes beyond business—it's about creating a supportive and equitable environment for both caregivers and those who need care. By becoming owners, our caregivers gain a sense of empowerment and responsibility that translates into exceptional service.

The Challenge

Unfortunately, we are facing an urgent financial crisis. Our cooperative has suffered from crippling disenrollment during the pandemic and financial errors in 2020 under a previous administration. In 2023, the IRS notified us of these errors which have resulted in financial liabilities that now fall to the remaining members to cover. The IRS has assessed penalties and taxes amounting to $9,721, a sum that threatens the future of our cooperative and the personal financial stability of our members. As the current owners/caregivers providing affordable services, we do not have the means to cover this unexpected debt and are reaching out to our community and supporters for help. In addition to the debt, our fundraising goal also includes the ability to reimburse our caregivers who have been making personal financial contributions and sacrifices to keep eQuality afloat.

We want to continue to provide our services for the next 10 years and beyond, but we need your support to get past this crisis and put ourselves in a position to grow strategically with other funding partners. Any help is appreciated as we hope to keep caring for our loved ones with the same quality care we pride ourselves on!

Our Ask

We are seeking $26,195 to cover:

Unpaid payroll taxes: $9,721

Lost/deferred wages to manage cash flow: $7,124

Owner savings investment towards maintaining operations: $8,150

Legal and accounting fees to ensure compliance and guide our transformation: $1,200

In Gratitude

To show our appreciation, we will keep you updated on our progress and share stories of how your generosity helps us thrive. Donors will be recognized on our website and social media, and we invite you to engage with us at community events celebrating our recovery and renewal.

If you cannot contribute financially, please consider sharing our story with others! Your support in any form is invaluable.