Nobody deserves to have their business broken into, but for Maple Ridge entrepreneur Kori Sandy, a Monday night break and enter has crippled her business.
Sandy recently had surgery for brain cancer and has spent the last three months learning to walk again.
Her friends have donated their time – full shifts – trying to keep her business, The Create Shop, open.
They are also trying to fundraise, so they can pay the rent on her store at the Haney Plaza, and keep the doors open.
Monday night someone smashed the front door glass and broke in, stealing the till, a business computer, and almost $1,000 in cash that they had fundraised.
It’s a disheartening set of circumstances for friends, Mel Schmidt and Marnie Young, who are working at the shop without pay just to keep it going.
Schmidt has been there seven days a week, often more than 10 hours per day.
“I want to see her succeed. This is her dream,” said Schmidt.
Mo Korchinski, another friend helping out, said the shop offers a unique product in downtown Maple Ridge.
“It’s the kind of business the community needs,” she said. “I don’t want to see it go under.”
Schmidt explained that Sandy, 35, had a battle with cancer in her digestive system about five years ago, and beat it.
She bought the unique business, where budding artist customers paint pottery, and moved it to its present location in August. But she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October, and had surgery soon after to remove it.
The surgery left Sandy unable to walk. She still holds tables and countertops to balance, and there were numerous complications.
“She’s got an uphill battle.”
Schmidt said Sandy is a compassionate person – the kind who will give a single mom a break on a birthday party rate, or for a cast of a newborn’s foot or hand. Now she needs a few breaks.
Her friends are organizing a fundraiser at the Legion on Feb. 20.
Tickets are available at the store. The goal is to put some rent money aside for the business.
Korchinski is confident that people will respond to Sandy’s plight.
“Maple Ridge is an amazing community, and I would love to see people support this,” she said.
And Schmidt is asking the thief who broke in this week to have a heart, and return the computer.
It contained vital information for the business, and losing it will create considerable extra work for she and other volunteers trying to keep the business afloat.
“It’s the lifeline of the business.”
She asks they drop off the computer, no questions asked.