Renovation, Funding, etc. (Justin)

This is a copy of an open letter I posted on the Langley Community Forum:

Hello all,

I heard about Langley Community Forum and thought it would be the perfect place for me to introduce myself. I know the length of this message is daunting, but there’s a lot of good information here (and a desperate plea for community support, which you can find by skipping forward to paragraphs three and four, if you’re under a time crunch), so I hope you’ll give me a little time. My name is Justin Bailey and I am one of the four AmeriCorps volunteers working with South Whidbey Commons here in Langley. We all work as baristas at Island Coffeehouse and Books, which is a non-profit, volunteer run coffeehouse and used bookstore that also serves as a youth training facility on 2nd Street in Langley. In addition, I am in charge of marketing for ICB. (To that end, check out my blog:www.islandcoffeehouseandbooks.blogspot.com ).

I have to say that this is no easy task. I have tried fliers, mass emails, handouts—all with no noticeable success. It’s a shame, too, because this is a very exciting time for the Commons and the Coffeehouse in particular. We have an amazing new manager, Rosie, who has and continues to be a screenwriter, actress, chef, poet, creative writing teacher, among other things, and brings an incredible energy, a wealth of experience, and a vision of local, organic, sustainability to the table. She has completely redone the way we do food. Now, we use only Chef Jess of Mukilteo (she supplies a variety of soups and gluten free baked goods), Kichlii’s Bagels, and Tree Top Bakers (the best cookies, scones, pecan sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin bread I’ve ever had). Also, we have, as always, a wide selection of “like new” used books for sell at lower prices than I’ve ever seen, and I’m a big used bookstore guy. We have free wireless Internet. We have egg, cheese, pesto, and olive tapenade breakfast bagels. We have friendly baristas of all ages who have generously donated their time to serving the community.

We also have a great mission statement, and, perhaps most relevantly right now, a great need. Our youth volunteers who run the coffeehouse are getting great jobs as a result of their experience here, we’re providing a safe, nourishing place for high schoolers to hang out, but—and this is a weighty but, a but that I hope you will feel sympathy for, empathy even—we need your help. Our kitchen floor is sinking, our roof is leaking, our electrical wiring is ancient and any day this place is likely to fall through the core of the earth and into China or open a window in the roof to the rain or spontaneously combust (of course, don’t let that deter you from coming in; we’ll gladly give you a free coffee card if you are unfortunate enough to be present when such an event occurs). We have a fantastic renovation plan but we need funding, badly, in order to get it done. All of us at ICB are convinced that there is huge potential for our expansion as a community service once we get the renovations done, but right now its completion is no certainty.

So, for those of you charitably minded folks, please consider patronizing our fine establishment or contributing funds to our renovation project. For those of you who are not in the financial position to give but do want a good book or well-brewed cup of coffee, an expertly pulled shot or gourmet soup, please come check us out and see what you think. I am certain that people of all ages and interests can find common ground at Island Coffeehouse and Books.

Also, feel free to respond with thoughts about the South Whidbey Commons and ICB, suggestions, ideas, well wishes, or anything at all. Thanks for your time!

Sincerely,
Justin Bailey