Save Lala's Livelihood
Donation protected
On July 14th, bridal store chain Alfred Angelo abruptly closed its doors, giving employees just three hours notice, and leaving brides with the dresses they paid for behind locked doors.
Lala turned into a superhero for many of those brides.
Lala (Rahila) has been a beloved seamstress at Alfred Angelo for years. They called her "the Queen" and praised her beautiful work. She is a sweet woman with a kind and tender heart.
When she found out about the closure, she took all the dresses she could and has continued to work 18-hour days out of her home to complete the alterations so that each bride could have the dress of their dreams.
Although brides prepaid Alfred Angelo for these alterations and Lala was asked to complete them, Lala has not received any of the money she is owed for her work. She is owed over $13,000, and is not able to pay her bills as she continues to work in her home without pay or any indication from the company that she will be paid.
If this wasn't bad enough, her own sewing machine is still locked inside the Alfred Angelo store.
Despite all of this, Lala says that the one thing that brings her joy is knowing that she is doing her best to give each bride the beautiful dress she expected.
A few brides have offered to pay her for her work again, and Lala (in tears) explained that the thought keeps her up at night - that a bride who is paying for an expensive wedding would have to pay for alterations twice. She says that it's just not right.
The reality is, Lala needs to be able to pay her bills and her seamstress job is her family's livelihood. She has lost her job and hundreds of customers, her sewing machine, and the money that she is owed for the work she agreed to do.
Lala has been so generous to these brides. She could have easily walked away and just found a new job, but instead she chose to finish the work, even if all she is paid with is a hug from a grateful, tearful bride.
Our goal is to raise $2,000 for Lala to help her pay bills that are due, buy a new sewing machine, and help her get her name out as she tries to rebuild a business.
I know the show of support to Lala will mean as much to her as the monetary gift. Although she was mistreated and left in the lurch by her employer, let's rally alongside her and allow her to continue the work that she loves.
News about the closure:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/14/news/alfred-angelo-wedding-dresses-closing/index.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/14/alfred-angelo-closes-files-bankruptcy-and-leaves-brides-empty-handed/480832001/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/business/alfred-angelo-closes-wedding-dress.html
Lala turned into a superhero for many of those brides.
Lala (Rahila) has been a beloved seamstress at Alfred Angelo for years. They called her "the Queen" and praised her beautiful work. She is a sweet woman with a kind and tender heart.
When she found out about the closure, she took all the dresses she could and has continued to work 18-hour days out of her home to complete the alterations so that each bride could have the dress of their dreams.
Although brides prepaid Alfred Angelo for these alterations and Lala was asked to complete them, Lala has not received any of the money she is owed for her work. She is owed over $13,000, and is not able to pay her bills as she continues to work in her home without pay or any indication from the company that she will be paid.
If this wasn't bad enough, her own sewing machine is still locked inside the Alfred Angelo store.
Despite all of this, Lala says that the one thing that brings her joy is knowing that she is doing her best to give each bride the beautiful dress she expected.
A few brides have offered to pay her for her work again, and Lala (in tears) explained that the thought keeps her up at night - that a bride who is paying for an expensive wedding would have to pay for alterations twice. She says that it's just not right.
The reality is, Lala needs to be able to pay her bills and her seamstress job is her family's livelihood. She has lost her job and hundreds of customers, her sewing machine, and the money that she is owed for the work she agreed to do.
Lala has been so generous to these brides. She could have easily walked away and just found a new job, but instead she chose to finish the work, even if all she is paid with is a hug from a grateful, tearful bride.
Our goal is to raise $2,000 for Lala to help her pay bills that are due, buy a new sewing machine, and help her get her name out as she tries to rebuild a business.
I know the show of support to Lala will mean as much to her as the monetary gift. Although she was mistreated and left in the lurch by her employer, let's rally alongside her and allow her to continue the work that she loves.
News about the closure:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/14/news/alfred-angelo-wedding-dresses-closing/index.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/14/alfred-angelo-closes-files-bankruptcy-and-leaves-brides-empty-handed/480832001/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/business/alfred-angelo-closes-wedding-dress.html
Organizer
Bethany Bartkowiak
Organizer
Harrisburg, PA
