One of these innocents was Natalie DuBose, owner of Natalie's Cakes and More, who began her business meagerly at bake sales and flea markets, eventually taking her dream of owning a bakery to a storefront in Ferguson, MO. This dream and her business was squashed on the evening of the Grand Jury announcement. 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 catch up on baking cakes for Thanksgiving!The day after the Grand Jury announcement, a friend helped Natalie to create a GoFundMe page to help offset the losses her business sustained. That simple idea has been overwhelmingly received on social media, and to date, donations have poured in around the country to the tune of $258K, which is more than enough to recoup losses and further promote the bakery with a new website.
Now Natalie is trying to pay it forward, along with rebuilding her business and writing 8,000- plus thank you notes, promoting other businesses and their GoFundMe sites. It's devastating to witness on the TV or Internet the violent and insane looting and rioting of a few hell-bent on destruction, but so uplifting to witness what those with charitable hearts can do to quickly heal the wounds.
If you are looking to help pay it forward, please visit these sites and contribute.
- SOLO Insurance
- Cathy's Kitchen & J&C BBQ Repairs
- Beauty World
- Juanita's Fashions Boutique
- Ferguson Market & Liquor
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