Toowoomba charity Emerge sees 10,000 per cent boost after plea for more business goes viral

After earning just $50 in one day of trading last week, a social media plea from a Toowoomba charity’s cafe has resulted in $5500 in business and donations in just 24 hours.

Jen Shaw, Emerge. Picture: Bev Lacey

A Toowoomba charity supporting and empowering disadvantaged young people has witnessed an incredible 10,000 per cent jump in business after a plea on social media went viral.

Emerge’s Jen Shaw posted earlier this week that she was considering closing the doors to the organisation’s cafe on Station St due to a lack of customers.

The cafe employs a dozen young people to earn income and skills, and also supports long-term accommodation options for young people.

The post was shared more than 2100 times in less than 48 hours, leading to a $2500 trading bump and another $3000 in donations.

Ms Shaw said this was in stark contrast to the $50 the cafe made on several days last week.

“Everyone is pretty tired, but very happy to have the support — it blows these kid’s minds that people want to support them,” she said.

On top of the customer boost, Ms Shaw said a GoFundMe was being set up to raise enough money to cover the cafe’s rent for the next six months.

But she acknowledges one amazing day of trading would not be enough to ensure the operation was sustainable.

“It’s not just the next few days, it’s about following through regularly,” Ms Shaw said.

“Funded services can’t take a lot these kids, but we will and we’re unfunded.

“There’s not much residential accommodation for young people, so it’s hard for them.”

Ms Shaw said she was planning to move the cafe to a more visible location, but was yet to find a suitable space.

The cafe can be found at 1 Station St in Toowoomba CBD.

To donate, you can send money to Emerge Toowoomba Inc, with the BSB of 814282 and an account number of 50805367.