‘Surviving not thriving’: Cupcake shop and disability service launches public plea
A Geelong cupcake shop and disability service hit hard by rising prices has turned to the community for support and funding.
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A Geelong cupcake shop and disability service hit hard by rising prices has turned to the community for support and funding.
Baked By Us, which trains and employs young people living with disabilities, launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign last week in a bid to recover from two years of lockdowns.
Owner Jess Robinson said the business was “surviving but not thriving” in the wake of inflation, local roadworks and Covid lockdowns.
“We want to break out of survival mode,” she said.
“A lot of our savings were depleted during Covid and everything that’s happened over the last few years.
The funding would go toward upgrades and repairs on essential kitchen equipment, investing in a functional website, two new delivery cars and a potential cafe relocation.
“Since ending the rising costs and decline in sales due to inflation and roadworks have meant all of the current bills are just barely being covered,” the GoFundMe page read.
“Like many other businesses, the Covid-19 lockdowns took almost everything from us financially and it’s felt like at times impossible to recover.”
A recent rent hike and need for a bigger kitchen meant the store was also in need of a new location to meet its needs.
Ms Robinson said while the staff and their support workers are covered under the NDIS, the store itself received no government funding.
“If we were just a regular day program helping to support people with disabilities, we would be okay,” she said.
“But it’s providing a learning environment that incurs costs, we have no financial assistance in that area of the cafe.”
Ms Robinson said she’d spent the better part of a year trying to access government funding and grants, but nothing had worked.
An NDIS spokesman confirmed businesses running programs were not eligible for funding through the federal scheme.
More than $3400 has already been raised by friends and supporters.
“People are reaching out all the time and asking how they can help,” she said.
“I’d just like to thank everyone who has donated so far. The campaign is really gaining momentum.”
To find out more, or support the campaign, visit: gofundme.com/f/baked-by-us-go-fund-me
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