<div>Dear friends, family, and the Calgary community,
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<div>For over 15 years, my parents have poured their hearts, souls, and hard work into running the Deerhead Cafe. It has been more than just a business - it's been a place where memories are made, warm meals are shared, and everyone who walks through the door is treated like family.
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<div>Today, my parents are facing a financial crisis and without immediate help from the community, the Deerhead Cafe is at severe risk of closing its doors forever.
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<div><strong>How we got here</strong>
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<div>The financial strain began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced closures, capacity limits, and the resulting inflation dealt a massive blow to the business. While my parents fought tirelessly to keep the cafe open, the debt accumulated during those years created a compounding burden that local small businesses simply weren't designed to absorb.
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<div>Over the past few years, we - their children - have stepped in to do everything in our power to help. We have poured our personal finances into the business and covered the bills out of our own pockets to keep the lights on and buy them time. However, we have officially exhausted our financial resources. We can no longer bridge the gap on our own, which is why we are turning to the community for help.
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<div><strong>Where things stand today</strong>
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<div>Currently, my parents are facing immediate, critical financial hurdles that threaten to shut the business down completely:
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<li><strong>Outstanding property taxes</strong>: Urgent back taxes required to avoid severe penalties or loss of the property.
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<li><strong>Missed utility payments</strong>: Critical overdue balances needed to prevent immediate utility disconnections.
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<li><strong>Accumulated debts</strong>: Pressing operational debts, including CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account) loan repayments and back rent, that built up while my parents tried to recover from the pandemic without raising prices beyond what our regular customers could afford.
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<div>My parents are proud, hardworking people who have spent nearly two decades supporting others and rarely ask for anything in return. They have given everything to this restaurant but they cannot survive this final hurdle alone.
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<div><strong>Where the funds will go</strong>
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<div>Every dollar raised through this campaign will go directly toward saving the Deerhead Cafe:
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<div>1. <strong>Immediate utility and tax relief</strong>: Clearing overdue property taxes and utility bills to keep the doors open.
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<div>2. <strong>Debt settlement</strong>: Paying down pressing operational debts, back rent, and emergency loans accumulated since the pandemic.
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<div>3. <strong>Stabilization</strong>: Giving my parents a clean slate so they can operate on sustainable ground moving forward.
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<div><strong>How you can help</strong>
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<li><strong>Donate</strong>: Any amount, big or small, directly helps keep our family business alive.
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<li><strong>Share</strong>: Please share this link on social media, via email, or with friends and neighbours.
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<li><strong>Visit us</strong>: Stop in for a meal or a cup of coffee next time you're in the area, your everyday patronage means the world to us.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, generosity, and support during this incredibly challenging time.
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<div>With much love and gratitude,
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<div>The Deerhead Cafe Family
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<div>Black and white photo credit: Carlos Amat
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Save the Deerhead Cafe: Help Us Keep the Doors Open

Save the Deerhead Cafe: Help Us Keep the Doors Open

Still $90,240 to go. Help us build momentum.