Rescuing Historic Montpelier Business

Dear Community,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is John Petela, a friend, college roommate, and fraternity brother of Kent Bigglestone for the past 37 years. Kent is the Co-owner (alongside brother, Eric) of Capitol Stationers; a Historic Business in Montpelier, VT and a pillar of the community since first founded by his Grandfather, William "Bill" Bigglestone in 1950. Bill passed it down to his son, Don, who in turn passed it down to his two sons, Kent and Eric. In case any of you have missed recent news events, Vermont is currently under a State of Emergency for Flooding events causing severe and unprecedented damages! And now after flood waters have devasted Capitol Stationers and countless other businesses in Montpelier, the Bigglestone brothers are confronting the very real and scary possibility of not only losing this great Family Legacy Business forever but also having to start over financially; from scratch, with both brothers now in their mid to late 50's! But "what about flood insurance" some of you may ask? Well, the short answer is that most of the "mom and pop" local businesses in this quaint, peaceful community simply can not afford to operate with the extremely high insurance premiums required for entities located inside what's considered a "flood plain."

The Bigglestone family's commitment to the Montpelier community over the last seven decades has proven their unwavering work ethic and genuine care for their customers. Capitol Stationers has been more than just a store; it has been a gathering place, a source of inspiration, and a testament to the enduring spirit of local entrepreneurship. It is a place where memories have been made and dreams have been nurtured. Now, faced with the devastating loss of their family business, I feel compelled to rally support for their journey of rebuilding.

I invite you to join me in supporting the restoration of Capitol Stationers through our GoFundMe campaign, "Rebuilding a Legacy; Restoring Capitol Stationers!" Together, we can ensure that this historic Montpelier business rises from the ashes and continues to serve its community for generations to come!

Thank you for your generosity, compassion, and belief in the power of community support. Your contributions will not only help rebuild a business but also restore a cherished family legacy that has touched the lives of countless individuals. Funds will be distributed directly to an account set up that will be controlled directly by Kent Bigglestone and specifically used only for business damages, repairs and future operating expenses related to recovering from this flooding catastrophe.

With gratitude,

John Petela

https://www.foxweather.com/watch/play-68371907a000a01

https://capitolstationers.com/history/