Hello Friends! I am writing to you because we (Maya Ophelia’s) need help. On January 5th we had to close because both Chase and I (Jack) got COVID. After that a blizzard and wild cold happened. This caused our lock on our food truck to remain frozen and we were locked out of the truck. It took two weeks of both us and our food truck owner trying EVERY DAY to get it unlocked. While we no longer have COVID, Chase is immunocompromised with his type 1 diabetes and has severe asthma so the after affects of having COVID have been impossible for him to shake.

Chase is the mastermind behind all the hot food you love. Not only do all of the recipes start in his brain, but he is the one that also cooks it all up for you every time we are open. On top of being sick Chase lost his access to Badgercare in January. To some this may not seem like a huge deal, but with Chase having type 1 diabetes this is a LIFELINE. Type 1 diabetics rely on insulin to survive. Chase has not had any easy time managing his diabetes the last few years until he was able to get an insulin pump through Badgercare. Chase’s insulin pump works as his pancreas and is what keeps him going every day. While we are fighting to keep his Badgercare, we are stuck with this really expensive insurance plan that DOES NOT cover his pump. This is a severe loss to us and quite frankly not an option.

We are trying to do everything in our power to keep Chase secure with what he needs but even with the “help” of this new insurance plan while we fight for Badgercare we now have to pay 90$/month for the plan and it still requires us to pay $60 for ONE insulin pen ( without insurance they are almost $600/each). And that is only a fraction of the medication he needs.

After being locked out and missing out on all of those sales combined with this personal setback, we are in a place where we quite frankly can't even afford to open our doors again and can't even support ourselves outside of owning a business. We are asking for help to get us back on our feet so we can continue to operate our business, which is our livelihood.

$4,000 = our food truck and commercial kitchen rent for two months

$2,000 = diabetes care for Chase (insulin, pump, doctor fees- this is a bare min estimate)

IF you have made it this far, I thank you for taking the time to read this. Maya Ophelia’s is 100% plant-based food business with an emphasis on creating accessible plant-based options for our entire community. We are one of the 2024 recipients of Milwaukee Magazine’s Unity award. We have so many more plans for the future, and we would just love the chance to get there!

Peace & Love

Jack Roldan

co-owner Maya Ophelia/ Moon Cherry Sweets