Raise relief for Bird & Branch employees

Thanks for all your support thus far! We've reached our initial goal of $7k, which makes up for the losses Bird & Branch's staff are experiencing for the remainder of March. The new overall goal of $20k will help to cover their losses for the month of April as the shop, and all of NYC, continue to work through the current shutdown.

#SmallBusinessRelief
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Bird & Branch (https://www.facebook.com/birdandbranchnyc/), located in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, is a specialty coffee shop with a mission to restore the city. One of the ways they live out this mission is by offering a job-training program for people with barriers to employment. Bird & Branch provides opportunities to these individuals by partnering with organizations that seek the flourishing of those who’ve experienced homelessness, drug addiction, were formerly incarcerated, or were victims of trafficking. Their employment at Bird & Branch helps set them on a path towards skill building and financial independence. Like many other small businesses, Bird & Branch is facing challenges resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19. Friends of Bird & Branch are banding together to raise relief funds during this difficult time. 


Specifically, all proceeds raised will go towards solely helping Bird & Branch employees with their personal living expenses. None of it will be used for business purposes. With a decrease in customer traffic to the brick and mortar store, employees have fewer or no work hours and fewer tips (which typically accounts for ~25% of their income), resulting in reduced wages.


Please consider contributing to this GoFundMe campaign so Bird & Branch can provide relief to their employees. Bird & Branch has devoted themselves to pouring into our city and helping those with employment barriers to thrive - now we have an opportunity to directly contribute to their mission. Let’s shower our beloved, local coffee shop and their employees with support and care during this tough economic time.


Stay safe everyone.


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From Bird & Branch's website (https://www.birdandbranchnyc.com/) :


Opening a business changes your life, but it’s also an opportunity to change the lives of others. That’s what Bird & Branch is to us. We’re a husband and wife team with hopes of opening a coffee shop that gives back to the community we serve by supporting the people within it. We strive to be intentional with our actions and how they affect our earth and the people in it. We don’t have all the answers, but come join us for a good cup of coffee as we figure things out together.


Through this shop, we have created a job-training program for people with barriers to employment. We're building up our business and coffee community so we can provide a home in which our trainees can succeed.