Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Just When You Want to Give Up on Humanity…
Humanity surprises you. Meet Natalie Dubose:
Hello, I’m Natalie Dubose of Ferguson, Missouri. I’m a small business owner with a cake shop and a bakery dream.
First, I would thank everyone for their warm wishes, empathy, and support during this crazy difficult time.
I would love to write more, and will try soon, but my business is so behind right now.
My shop, which had it’s grand opening this summer was vandalized in the riots.
My main windows were smashed and bakery damaged. I’m beside myself, but with the holidays, can’t stop working.
I’m very busy cleaning and trying to repair my business. I’m also trying to catchup on baking cakes for Thanksgiving!
I promise to update this later. I’m truly mixing batter right now. I began baking and selling cakes at local flea markets, slowly saving money to start my small business.
I LOVE TO BAKE !!!
It was my dream and I’m working hard to accomplish that dream.
The outpouring of support on Twitter, Facebook, and in the media has been amazing. I was in tears.
It was suggested that I start this account by a new friend and here it is. I do need help to rebuild and create a website, so any donations would be a huge assistance.
I’m not sure where to find the money to repair my little bakery. But, even if you just stopped by to say hello. Thank You !!!!
I’ve never felt such love.
This is the kind of story all too often lost in the coverage of riots and shootings, and she is the kind of person all too often forgotten by those above her and demonized by those below. Let us do what we can to support the small businesses that are the only real hope for places like Ferguson, Missouri.
You can contribute to her rebuilding fund here.
Update: as of just sixteen hours after starting the fundraiser, she’s been pledged $72,000.
Published in General
Just donated actually, and she’s about to hit her goal in less than 7 hours. Shame I can’t order a cake from South Carolina…
For god’s sake, don’t let Ricochet do her website though.
Thanks so much for sharing this story Amy. God bless Natalie Dubose.
So many pundits and commentators have talked about sharing the stories of Ferguson so that we can overcome and move forward – was this what they were talking about?
There must be many more like Natalie in Ferguson – as you said – will we hear about them?
She surpassed her goal in only four hours.
Natalie is one of those people that reminds us that all is not lost in her words; “this crazy difficult time.”
She didn’t build that.
(Actually, yes she did. Twice now. God bless her.)
Thanks for this, Amy! On my way there…
She’s raised nearly $50,000.
See? It’s stimulus! The Broken Window Fallacy is debunked!
for a minute there, I thought Natalie joined Ricochet…
Bless Her for being a model for her community and the Ferguson community.
Scott Wilmot took the words out of my mouth. But they bear repeating. God bless Natalie Dubose.
Closing in on $60k.
During the King riots my dad spent the night on the roof of his business with a shotgun. I hate riots.
Someone give her a Ricochet membership.
‘It was the worst of times, it was the best of times…’
Or at least consider having her on the podcast.
The dollar count is over $100,000 now. Her goal was $20,000.
Is there a point where it becomes unethical for her to keep the campaign going?
Yes, unless she plans to share with her fellow merchants, it seems to me, Mis.
Update: Having seen her expressions of amazed gratitude, I have no doubt that she will treat people’s generosity as a nearly-sacred trust…
Maybe foodydirect.com should check out her work, too?
I first heard about her late last night on Twitter. Several people suggested starting a fund for her to rebuild and low and behold a guy named David Swingle did it. He set up a group fund acct which quickly got $10k in donations, was able to track down Ms. Dubose through a local reporter, transferred control of the fundraiser to her and helped her set up her own donation page. Now Mr. Swingle had no connection to her or Ferguson but on his own decided to proactively help someone in need. What a great story, holding my breath for his interview on CNN.
I believe the donations have been halted
I don’t think so. It’s up to nearly $140,000 now.
Wow. Apparently Rush had the story on his show and like Kims derriere it broke the Internet. :)
And I’ve followed her page on Facebook, and from her comments, she’s so overwhelmed with generosity she doesn’t know what to do.
RB49, I was able to reach Mr. Swingle and offered to give him a membership so hopefully we will have another great addition to our little community.
Thank you for sharing this, Amy.
And now approaching $200,000.00.
No, I don’t think it’s unethical at all. The people contributing are fully aware that this has gone *way* beyond the cost of repairs, and they are now funding a much larger version of her original business. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Are there any Ricochetti in Missouri with a business background? Perhaps you could hook up.
I was happy to contribute. The amounts are getting high enough (over $200K) that I hope she gets competent professional advice and does not get taken advantage of. Her heart appears to be in the right place.
I assume that these donations are considered taxable income. She crossed into the top 10 percent at $150,000, and if she passes $500,000 she’ll be a one-percenter.
I wonder if President Obama will use prosecutorial discretion to order the IRS to give her a break, or if he’ll instead make her pay “her fair share”.
Over $220,000.00…
As an interesting side effect, this is an enormous promotion for GoFundMe.
And an enormous promotion for old fashioned charitable giving.
I have been wondering whether she would end up giving some of it to other equally hard-hit businesses. It seems like the kind of thing that she might be motivated to do, and helping the whole area pick back up would be beneficial for her business as well. Of course, I don’t know how the legalities and accounting issues work.
That would be nice, *but*, that’s not what people donated the money for, they donated the money to her bakery business.
So check it out, she did the right thing and in the latest update pointed out another business that could use the assistance.