Help Support Christian & Christine Hayes
Donation protected
It’s always difficult to ask for help, especially if you are the ones who are always there to lend the help others need. Christian and Christine Hayes are two of the most amazing and giving people, they will never ask for help, so I will.
My mother and I have been talking with Christian (my brother) and Christine (sister-in-law) since the Covid pandemic started. It has been amazing to see them pivot and adapt to the ever changing situation, all to save their businesses, their livelihood, everything they built with their own hands. They never stood back and allowed the situation to knock them down to the point of failure. They were, and are, always ready to fight back, fight for what they have worked for and never give up.
Through it all, while attempting to save their business, they have asked how can they help. Whether that be to pare down the staff due to safety concerns, offer free meals to those in need during a pandemic, bring staff back in a safe way to help them all make ends meet with their own personal budgets, and expand the new online market to help local producers have a place where their goods can be sold. They never made it about themselves.
This summer, Christian and Christine in essence created two additional businesses on the fly. Dandelion Market and the Throughfare were born out of necessity, not to increase a profit margin, but to simply keep the business safe. They are now offering The Garrison’s Chef’s Table, Dandelion Catering, Dandelion Market and the Throughfare. They and their staff work tirelessly to keep the business going. Many times, Christian or Christine are in the kitchen on their own, tying up loose ends, producing items for the business, prepping food for the day.
What started 11 years ago in their home, as a small catering company, has turned into 4 businesses where their hard work, love, passion, and grit shine through in everything they do. Dandelion Catering and the Garrison were thriving and growing until Covid. Now, they are just trying to keep afloat. The pandemic has caused major shockwaves across all industries, but hospitality businesses, especially food services have been hit incredibly hard. Christian and Christine are no exception to this. When you are operating on a razor thin budget, the smallest change or challenge can sink the whole thing.
This week Brown Paper Tickets, the company that was used for the sale of the Chef’s Table tickets, is not sending the over $10,000 owed to Christian and Christine for their hard work. There has been no contact from them. The company has gone quiet. They are not responding to communication attempts and a simple online search will show this is not an isolated issue. Multiple customers are missing refunds, payments and proceeds for events. Christian and Christine were counting on this money to meet their numbers but are now in a spot where they don’t know when (or if) they will see that money.
This GoFundMe is being set up to not only offset the Brown Paper Ticket loses, but to help sustain this family’s two hospitality businesses make it through the winter months. The restaurant industry has been decimated and only a small percentage will make it through to the end of 2021 - we are hoping to add a helping hand to their journey to make through to the other side.
Please consider donating to help these two amazing people continue to fight and maintain their livelihood. They need our help. They have been good stewards of the small business mentality and have been integral to so many in the community.
Thank you,
Rick Hayes
My mother and I have been talking with Christian (my brother) and Christine (sister-in-law) since the Covid pandemic started. It has been amazing to see them pivot and adapt to the ever changing situation, all to save their businesses, their livelihood, everything they built with their own hands. They never stood back and allowed the situation to knock them down to the point of failure. They were, and are, always ready to fight back, fight for what they have worked for and never give up.
Through it all, while attempting to save their business, they have asked how can they help. Whether that be to pare down the staff due to safety concerns, offer free meals to those in need during a pandemic, bring staff back in a safe way to help them all make ends meet with their own personal budgets, and expand the new online market to help local producers have a place where their goods can be sold. They never made it about themselves.
This summer, Christian and Christine in essence created two additional businesses on the fly. Dandelion Market and the Throughfare were born out of necessity, not to increase a profit margin, but to simply keep the business safe. They are now offering The Garrison’s Chef’s Table, Dandelion Catering, Dandelion Market and the Throughfare. They and their staff work tirelessly to keep the business going. Many times, Christian or Christine are in the kitchen on their own, tying up loose ends, producing items for the business, prepping food for the day.
What started 11 years ago in their home, as a small catering company, has turned into 4 businesses where their hard work, love, passion, and grit shine through in everything they do. Dandelion Catering and the Garrison were thriving and growing until Covid. Now, they are just trying to keep afloat. The pandemic has caused major shockwaves across all industries, but hospitality businesses, especially food services have been hit incredibly hard. Christian and Christine are no exception to this. When you are operating on a razor thin budget, the smallest change or challenge can sink the whole thing.
This week Brown Paper Tickets, the company that was used for the sale of the Chef’s Table tickets, is not sending the over $10,000 owed to Christian and Christine for their hard work. There has been no contact from them. The company has gone quiet. They are not responding to communication attempts and a simple online search will show this is not an isolated issue. Multiple customers are missing refunds, payments and proceeds for events. Christian and Christine were counting on this money to meet their numbers but are now in a spot where they don’t know when (or if) they will see that money.
This GoFundMe is being set up to not only offset the Brown Paper Ticket loses, but to help sustain this family’s two hospitality businesses make it through the winter months. The restaurant industry has been decimated and only a small percentage will make it through to the end of 2021 - we are hoping to add a helping hand to their journey to make through to the other side.
Please consider donating to help these two amazing people continue to fight and maintain their livelihood. They need our help. They have been good stewards of the small business mentality and have been integral to so many in the community.
Thank you,
Rick Hayes
Organizer and beneficiary
Rick Hayes
Organizer
Portland, ME
Christine Hayes
Beneficiary
