Urgent support needed for Latinx-owned businesses
Donation protected
Fiscal sponsorship and oversight provided by Walker Community United Methodist Church
During the recent uprising in Minneapolis, hundreds of businesses were destroyed. Sixteen of those businesses were immigrant-owned, co-located in the beloved Mercado Central on Lake Street. Given the closures due to COVID-19, these losses were nothing short of catastrophic. Nearly all of these businesses lack insurance and do not qualify for federal loans because their employees are family members. The pandemic had already put them three months behind on their rent. Then, at 4 am on May 28th, business owners received a call from building management telling them that their businesses had been badly damaged.
There are many wonderful fundraisers happening right now; our niche is direct, personal support to sixteen immigrant-owned businesses that do not have access to enough funds. With the strong support of the business owners and the manager of Mercado Central, our aim is to help these businesses get back on their feet in other practical ways. Everything we raise will go directly to owners so they can replace cash registers, merchandise, display cases and other retail basics.
This is a tangible way that you can help in what has been an overwhelming series of events. Please give as you are able, and take 10 seconds to share this with your networks. With your support, we can avoid gentrification of a richly diverse Minneapolis retail corridor, and ensure that the families who’ve worked incredibly hard to establish their businesses can do what needs to be done to be made whole.
This fundraiser has been approved by the management of Mercado Central.
During the recent uprising in Minneapolis, hundreds of businesses were destroyed. Sixteen of those businesses were immigrant-owned, co-located in the beloved Mercado Central on Lake Street. Given the closures due to COVID-19, these losses were nothing short of catastrophic. Nearly all of these businesses lack insurance and do not qualify for federal loans because their employees are family members. The pandemic had already put them three months behind on their rent. Then, at 4 am on May 28th, business owners received a call from building management telling them that their businesses had been badly damaged.
There are many wonderful fundraisers happening right now; our niche is direct, personal support to sixteen immigrant-owned businesses that do not have access to enough funds. With the strong support of the business owners and the manager of Mercado Central, our aim is to help these businesses get back on their feet in other practical ways. Everything we raise will go directly to owners so they can replace cash registers, merchandise, display cases and other retail basics.
This is a tangible way that you can help in what has been an overwhelming series of events. Please give as you are able, and take 10 seconds to share this with your networks. With your support, we can avoid gentrification of a richly diverse Minneapolis retail corridor, and ensure that the families who’ve worked incredibly hard to establish their businesses can do what needs to be done to be made whole.
This fundraiser has been approved by the management of Mercado Central.
Fundraising team (2)
Michelle Vidovic
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Latinx Businesses at Mercado Central
Beneficiary
Theresa Parks
Team member
