Soulshine Vegan Café
Donation protected
My name is Elijah Bullard. My partner (Madison) and I have been working hard to open a vegan café in Indianapolis.
Over the past seven months, we have utilized our savings to purchase all the necessary commercial restaurant equipment. And with the assistance of close family, we've secured the perfect location. If all goes well, Soulshine Vegan Café is set to open in Broad Ripple in August 2022. But to reach this tentative opening date, we need your help.
If you were to donate to our campaign, your money would help us to reach our goal of opening. We would be able to complete furnishing and renovations of our space, fully invest in our initial food sourcing, hire employees, and keep the lights on until our doors open.
But why should you donate to Soulshine? Consider these points:
- Environmentalism. A vegan diet is a step toward a better planet. We vow to do everything within our power to make a positive impact environmentally, including composting, recycling, and thorough consciousness in the sourcing of all food, supplies, and merchandise.
- Animal advocacy. We are passionate about animals, and this motivation has played an enormous part in both our personal decisions to become vegan and our endeavor as restaurant owners.
- Inclusion. Looking for healthier options? We'll have them. Gluten-free? We'll have them, too. And overall, Soulshine will offer an environment that is entirely and intentionally welcoming to everyone.
- An underserved vegan market. Indianapolis desperately needs more vegan options. We intend to offer breakfast, lunch, and coffee products that act as relief to an underserved vegan market. Our menu will feature items that are entirely unique and difficult for vegans to find, yet flavorful and accessible enough to serve as gateway vegan food to even the most reluctant carnivore.
- Community. We'll be offering a "spin night" dinner every Monday night, during which we'll put on some records and invite everyone to join us for a delicious meal that will rotate weekly.
- Investment. We're not asking anyone to fund a project that we wouldn't fund ourselves! At this stage, we have most of the necessary equipment and furniture for Soulshine, in addition to securing our location. Opening a restaurant is expensive, and we've taken the brunt of this cost ourselves.
- Quality. Our recipes are tested, tried and true. We intend to offer vegan comfort food and coffee products of excellent quality.
- Family. Madison and I are the parents of four children, and we intend to open Soulshine together as a family. We've packed our bags and moved to the Indianapolis area from Tipton so that we can make this dream a reality.
- Ethics. While we intend to care for our family, we're not jumping into the restaurant business to get rich. As Soulshine becomes established, we intend to invest back into the community via partnerships with food banks, animal sanctuaries, and charities dedicated to underserved populations.
- People. In the end, we're asking you to invest in the people that will make Soulshine thrive as a café and, hopefully, as a community. Madison and I are passionate not only for veganism, but also for the environment, equity, and social justice; not only for cooking, but also for music, art, and athletics; not only our work, but for our children, our community, and our planet.
We hope that you will choose to help us out, but either way, we invite you all to join us at Soulshine Vegan Café this fall.
Fundraising team (2)
Elijah Bullard
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN
Madison Bullard
Team member