Donation protected
Hello - My name is Steve Lee, and I am the guy in this photo with my good friend ‘Sunni’, a very special and giving soul from Nigeria who immigrated here legally and has successfully pursued his Dream of building and owning his own small business. You may have visited, shopped, or donated to Nikinana Resale Store and if you met this inspiring character at his eclectic, warm and packed with special items shop, may also have discovered that it is a place of joy, purpose and meaning. The word Nikinana means ‘We Are One’ and is located in downtown La Crosse at 500 Main Street.
And that’s why I decided to help Sunni with this URGENT fundraising plea to raise $16,000. (Details of this amount are listed below. If you want to talk with me my cell is [phone redacted]).
He needs our financial support in order to endure an unfortunate situation I explain below, that not only threatens the continued existence of his dream and growing business but brings this entrepreneur to the brink of financial ruin. For 10 years he sacrificed and put literally everything into preparing for and starting Nikinana. Sunni will be destroyed financially and his future dreams of success and giving back to this community he calls home derailed, and downtown La Crosse will see extinguished a success story that did not have to die – if he is left alone without our assistance in his time of dire need.
Thank You for reading on … and opening your heart and pocketbook to help Sunni endure this cash-flow crisis he did not create but is forced to deal with. I pray I am not the only person who believes this is a cause worth fighting for and a person worth supporting. And I promise you that this proud man will cry tears of gratitude and joy for any kind of support he receives that will allow him to endure, survive and keep building the long-term success of his precious Nikinana Retail Store. Sunni has a Dream and has proven his will to fight for and build it - and I hope our generous community will join me and others in giving him this lifeline he needs in order to fight on - for the Dream we can all believe in and help build.
In November of 2021, WXOW-TV profiled the success and community contribution of Sunni and the Nikinana Resale Store – and new momentum and awareness grew significantly.
The text of TV profile is at the end of this plea for help and hopefully this link will work for the video coverage: https://www.wxow.com/townnews/commerce/la-crosse-resale-store-selling-holiday-gifts-with-a-long-lasting-impact/article_f8764524-4d5f-11ec-b4e4-cf74c54b68ed.html
Shortly after WXOW-TV profiled Sunni and his success in starting and operating Nikinana Resale Store he was broadsided in mid-December with a very unfortunate situation. Having operated the store successfully for 8 months and building his presence and growing a passionate, loyal clientele at his downtown La Crosse location, Sunni was confronted by a volunteer and friend at his store who sought to take the business from him and who threatened his ownership by claiming partial ownership rights over the business he had worked so hard to create and bring to life. Because of this claim, the store has been temporarily shut down since December leaving him no choice but to seek legal recourse and take the individual to small claims court to maintain ownership and control of Nikinana.
This legal case has been ongoing since December slowly going through the small claims and mediation public court process to the dismay of Sunni and others, as we watched in growing desperation his store shut down and his lifeblood cash-flow eliminated that is essential to operating Nikinana. And stopping the small but also essential living expenses needed by Sunni. Until it is resolved in the courts – now scheduled for the final decision of Judge Elliott Levine in early May – Sunni is left without revenue from the store to pay bills and without resources or cash to keep up on rent, utilities, living expenses and legal costs.
I have followed the case and feel strongly, as others do that Sunni will maintain full ownership rights and this positive decision will allow him to once again operate the store that has been his passion and dream for more than 10 years. This devastating shutdown is why he needs our support.
Over the last 2+ years, I’ve gotten to know Sunni, his situation and his passion and skills for running this business. His merchandise and marketing skills are well developed, his business acumen solid, and his ability to build his ‘brand’ and community presence proven – all because his passion and work ethic is driven by his deep desire to succeed and live this American Dream he left Nigeria for.
I decided to help Sunni by setting up this donation request to raise these essential funds because back in April of 2021 when he opened his store, it was so exciting to help him move into his downtown store location and see his Dream finally come to fruition, and to see Sunni gain a foothold and quickly build solid cash-flow through sales that he fed back into the business to fuel continued growth. Many celebrated his success back then and we saw a bright future for Nikinana under Sunni’s passionate drive, and supported him because he was doing the hard work himself and making it happen. It is so heart-breaking today to see his future at risk because of this unwarranted and unearned grasp to take from Sunni what he built on his own. Yes - I am convinced Sunni will have this legal issue resolved in his favor and that he will make future success happen for his business once again – but right now he does not have the financial ability to take this devastating hit of having his store shut down and his cash-flow stop. He needs our help because he does not have the financial resources or network available to other small business entrepreneurs. Sunni also has overcome and sacrificed so much not only to gain legal citizenship but to get to where he is today, and I hope we rally around and assist him to endure and persevere. Because he needs us.
This is not a ‘handout’ but truly a lifeline. Please help Sunni survive. If he does not get through this crisis – he will lose everything. If he can’t get caught up on past due bills and stay at his 500 Main Street downtown La Crosse store location, he will be unable to start new someplace else because everything he built over 10 years went into this one well-planned and executed effort. There will be no way for him to move all his merchandise to storage, find a new location and start over. He will be starting over. He needs to survive this crisis today to continue building what is already rolling.
I know we can’t help everyone in need – but we can help Sunni who truly is doing all he can to further himself and our community in a valuable and inspiring way. Will you donate what you can and share this plea for help with others you know? Your kindness and generosity will truly make a huge difference in the life of this special entrepreneur and unique soul.
What your donation will accomplish and do for Sunni and Nikinana Resale Store.
$16,000 is needed for the following past-due, pending, and essential expenses urgently needed by Sunni to bridge this crisis and allow Nikinana to endure. If we step up and help – Nikinana’s doors will reopen and revenue will once again fuel his future efforts.
1. Rent – past due from December 2021 through this May. Once the store opens again hopefully in April, cash flow will build, but May rent will be tough to cover for him. $1200/month x 6 = $7200
2. Utilities – past due over same period. Excel Energy $1600, cell phone $800, internet $600 = $3000
3. Legal costs - $4500
4. Personal expenses – food, apartment rental and basic living expenses for Sunni above current generosity of advocates and supporters - $1300
WXOW TV ran this story with video on November 24th, 2021
‘Area shoppers now have a new option for finding gifts with a long-lasting impact. Nikinana is a resale shop that opened in April on the corner of 5th and Main streets in downtown La Crosse with a special mission in mind.
The store features new and used clothing, books, shoes, and other various unique items. With each item purchased money is donated to provide financial resources to local immigrants seeking to work legally in the United States or gain immigration status.
The stores CEO, Dim Sunni Aaronwuche says he is happy to provide this support, "It makes me feel very happy because I am here I have an opportunity to stay here and do the things I want to do and help my community, and even help my community way back in Nigeria. I know that because I can be able to help them if I’m doing pretty well here.’
'WE ARE ONE'
Nikinana
And that’s why I decided to help Sunni with this URGENT fundraising plea to raise $16,000. (Details of this amount are listed below. If you want to talk with me my cell is [phone redacted]).
He needs our financial support in order to endure an unfortunate situation I explain below, that not only threatens the continued existence of his dream and growing business but brings this entrepreneur to the brink of financial ruin. For 10 years he sacrificed and put literally everything into preparing for and starting Nikinana. Sunni will be destroyed financially and his future dreams of success and giving back to this community he calls home derailed, and downtown La Crosse will see extinguished a success story that did not have to die – if he is left alone without our assistance in his time of dire need.
Thank You for reading on … and opening your heart and pocketbook to help Sunni endure this cash-flow crisis he did not create but is forced to deal with. I pray I am not the only person who believes this is a cause worth fighting for and a person worth supporting. And I promise you that this proud man will cry tears of gratitude and joy for any kind of support he receives that will allow him to endure, survive and keep building the long-term success of his precious Nikinana Retail Store. Sunni has a Dream and has proven his will to fight for and build it - and I hope our generous community will join me and others in giving him this lifeline he needs in order to fight on - for the Dream we can all believe in and help build.
In November of 2021, WXOW-TV profiled the success and community contribution of Sunni and the Nikinana Resale Store – and new momentum and awareness grew significantly.
The text of TV profile is at the end of this plea for help and hopefully this link will work for the video coverage: https://www.wxow.com/townnews/commerce/la-crosse-resale-store-selling-holiday-gifts-with-a-long-lasting-impact/article_f8764524-4d5f-11ec-b4e4-cf74c54b68ed.html
Shortly after WXOW-TV profiled Sunni and his success in starting and operating Nikinana Resale Store he was broadsided in mid-December with a very unfortunate situation. Having operated the store successfully for 8 months and building his presence and growing a passionate, loyal clientele at his downtown La Crosse location, Sunni was confronted by a volunteer and friend at his store who sought to take the business from him and who threatened his ownership by claiming partial ownership rights over the business he had worked so hard to create and bring to life. Because of this claim, the store has been temporarily shut down since December leaving him no choice but to seek legal recourse and take the individual to small claims court to maintain ownership and control of Nikinana.
This legal case has been ongoing since December slowly going through the small claims and mediation public court process to the dismay of Sunni and others, as we watched in growing desperation his store shut down and his lifeblood cash-flow eliminated that is essential to operating Nikinana. And stopping the small but also essential living expenses needed by Sunni. Until it is resolved in the courts – now scheduled for the final decision of Judge Elliott Levine in early May – Sunni is left without revenue from the store to pay bills and without resources or cash to keep up on rent, utilities, living expenses and legal costs.
I have followed the case and feel strongly, as others do that Sunni will maintain full ownership rights and this positive decision will allow him to once again operate the store that has been his passion and dream for more than 10 years. This devastating shutdown is why he needs our support.
Over the last 2+ years, I’ve gotten to know Sunni, his situation and his passion and skills for running this business. His merchandise and marketing skills are well developed, his business acumen solid, and his ability to build his ‘brand’ and community presence proven – all because his passion and work ethic is driven by his deep desire to succeed and live this American Dream he left Nigeria for.
I decided to help Sunni by setting up this donation request to raise these essential funds because back in April of 2021 when he opened his store, it was so exciting to help him move into his downtown store location and see his Dream finally come to fruition, and to see Sunni gain a foothold and quickly build solid cash-flow through sales that he fed back into the business to fuel continued growth. Many celebrated his success back then and we saw a bright future for Nikinana under Sunni’s passionate drive, and supported him because he was doing the hard work himself and making it happen. It is so heart-breaking today to see his future at risk because of this unwarranted and unearned grasp to take from Sunni what he built on his own. Yes - I am convinced Sunni will have this legal issue resolved in his favor and that he will make future success happen for his business once again – but right now he does not have the financial ability to take this devastating hit of having his store shut down and his cash-flow stop. He needs our help because he does not have the financial resources or network available to other small business entrepreneurs. Sunni also has overcome and sacrificed so much not only to gain legal citizenship but to get to where he is today, and I hope we rally around and assist him to endure and persevere. Because he needs us.
This is not a ‘handout’ but truly a lifeline. Please help Sunni survive. If he does not get through this crisis – he will lose everything. If he can’t get caught up on past due bills and stay at his 500 Main Street downtown La Crosse store location, he will be unable to start new someplace else because everything he built over 10 years went into this one well-planned and executed effort. There will be no way for him to move all his merchandise to storage, find a new location and start over. He will be starting over. He needs to survive this crisis today to continue building what is already rolling.
I know we can’t help everyone in need – but we can help Sunni who truly is doing all he can to further himself and our community in a valuable and inspiring way. Will you donate what you can and share this plea for help with others you know? Your kindness and generosity will truly make a huge difference in the life of this special entrepreneur and unique soul.
What your donation will accomplish and do for Sunni and Nikinana Resale Store.
$16,000 is needed for the following past-due, pending, and essential expenses urgently needed by Sunni to bridge this crisis and allow Nikinana to endure. If we step up and help – Nikinana’s doors will reopen and revenue will once again fuel his future efforts.
1. Rent – past due from December 2021 through this May. Once the store opens again hopefully in April, cash flow will build, but May rent will be tough to cover for him. $1200/month x 6 = $7200
2. Utilities – past due over same period. Excel Energy $1600, cell phone $800, internet $600 = $3000
3. Legal costs - $4500
4. Personal expenses – food, apartment rental and basic living expenses for Sunni above current generosity of advocates and supporters - $1300
WXOW TV ran this story with video on November 24th, 2021
‘Area shoppers now have a new option for finding gifts with a long-lasting impact. Nikinana is a resale shop that opened in April on the corner of 5th and Main streets in downtown La Crosse with a special mission in mind.
The store features new and used clothing, books, shoes, and other various unique items. With each item purchased money is donated to provide financial resources to local immigrants seeking to work legally in the United States or gain immigration status.
The stores CEO, Dim Sunni Aaronwuche says he is happy to provide this support, "It makes me feel very happy because I am here I have an opportunity to stay here and do the things I want to do and help my community, and even help my community way back in Nigeria. I know that because I can be able to help them if I’m doing pretty well here.’
'WE ARE ONE'
Nikinana
Organizer
Dim. Sunni AaronsWuche
Organizer
La Crosse, WI