Support Angela after fire at Braids & Things International

Hello,

My name is Chelsae Washington and I am coming to you on behalf of my Mother in Love, Angela Washington and her business, Braids & Things International, which was heavily damaged in a fire in August 2024.

Aside from being an angel on Earth (these are my words to describe her, but I’m sure you’ll find many more that would say the same) and humble servant of the Lord, Angela has been a successful business owner for 20+ years. Angela immigrated from St. Lucia to America at the age of 10 after her mother worked hard to bring all of her children to America to become citizens. Angela’s mother, Remitia, set the standard for success for her children by her own example as a property owner and creating a successful career in the culinary industry. Angela used her mother’s example as a hard working woman as the foundation to build her own success and be a shining example to her own children as well. With a vision that started out with her doing hair in her living room while raising her family, Angela saw the property at 1506 W. Holmes Rd on the South side of Lansing and believed and proclaimed that that building would become her business; a beauty salon called Braids & Things International. Braids & Things International has become apart of Angela’s future legacy and turned into a family business as Angela’s daughter, Naomi, followed Angela’s example and became a successful cosmetologist at Braids & Things International as well.

Angela worked hard to not only help support her family, but to build a business that would also help others support their own families. Where others would come to learn and build up their own businesses using Angela’s guidance and support with Braids & Things International being the launching pad of their own successful careers. With hard work and sheer determination, Angela not only paid off her building but also created a staple in the community that would serve people from all walks of life.

If you know Angela, you know that she will go above and beyond to help, support, invest or sow a seed into someone. Angela’s help often goes beyond a kind word or a prayer; she often uses her knowledge, connections, her own money, resources, even her own space. At one point one of the MANY people she had poured into many times before had fallen on hard times. They fell in with the wrong things and the wrong people and lost everything.

Angela gave them shelter above the salon, food, even money at times and asked for nothing in return except that they get back on their own two feet eventually. Unfortunately, they never got free of what cost them everything. Instead they used Angela for her space, her money and her resources until Angela had no choice but to ask them to leave. They refused and Angela had to go through the courts to formally evict them. After being granted a judgement, they were to vacate the premise the first week of September 2024.

On August 23rd, 2024 as Angela worked with a client downstairs in the salon, the person Angela was evicting caused a fire which engulfed the upstairs of the building and caused very costly damage on every floor of the building; even the basement. While thankfully everyone made it out alive and safe, the building Angela worked so hard for was no longer fit for business for Angela or the other beauticians she employed.

To add insult to injury, it was discovered that the insurance policy Angela carried on the building and her business had been altered as it changed multiple agents hands within the insurance agency. Angela trusted that her business she trusted to the insurance company would be well covered as they paid for when setting up the policy 10 years prior. Instead, she found out that the policy had been altered to only cover the contents of the building and not the building itself. Despite the fact the current policy isn’t what was asked for 10 years ago, because the renewal was agreed to while believing the policy was as it was set up, the coverage for the contents and not the building is in fact all the insurance company has to cover. A very unfortunate and costly oversight. A few thousand in contents is nothing in comparison to the thousands upon thousands it will cost the restore the business to what it once was before the fire; what Angela had worked so hard for.

Rebuilding the salon will be very costly. The fire upstairs caused so much damage to the rafters that the entire second floor will need to be removed. It may be more cost effective to demolish and rebuild the entire structure. Due to new codes, many costly updates to plumbing and electrical will need to be made as well regardless of whether the salon is remodeled or rebuilt completely. The current estimated quote from a reputable and well respected company we know will keep Angela and Braids & Things International’s best interest in mind is upwards of $300k+…

At this time I am asking for financial help for my Mother in Love Angela Washington and her family business, Braids & Things International, to rebuild the salon to its former glory! This woman is one of the hardest working people I know. I remember as we stood outside the salon watching the fire department battle the flames, she was calling the client she had in her chair at the time the fire broke out. She had arranged with another salon to use a chair to finish that client’s hair! Her business in flames and she just wanted to take care of her client… Just wow. She is one of the most loving, helpful and kind individuals I’ve ever encountered. It is unfortunate that the carelessness of someone she tried to help has cost her what she worked so hard for. Thankfully we do serve a mighty God and do trust that one way another, everything will be made right!

If you are able to and feel called to help, any amount you can donate towards the rebuilding of Braids & Things International would be so very appreciated. All money donated will go directly to Angela Washington to rebuild Braids & Things International. Thank you for your time and thank you in advance for all your generosity and kindness! ❤️