Ontario Community Raises Thousands Overnight For Struggling Tanning Salon Owner (VIDEO)
A struggling small business in Ontario is asking for the community's help after the lockdown threatened its survival.
Christian Linkert, owner of The Sun Emporium tanning salon in Barrie, posted a tearful video to Instagram on February 11 detailing his financial difficulties.
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In the video, Linkert asked for assistance via a GoFundMe page he set up, saying, "I feel so shameful to ask for help, to ask for a handout [...] I don't know what else to do, I'm out of ideas. I'm out of hope."
On the GoFundMe page, Linkert explained that when the second lockdown began in December, he "had accessed all funds, drained all savings, maxed out all credit cards and had no way to possibly make it through."
The fundraiser brought in $20,000 in 19 hours, and tons of heartfelt messages are filling the comment section.
"I didn’t expect this kind of support at all," Linkert told Narcity.
"...I want to be completely transparent with you about how difficult this battle has been," he wrote.
"I want you to truly understand what is happening in my small business, and in most small businesses in this country right now."