About The Red Hen
Do you remember your favorite story from childhood? Mine was The Little Red Hen, as told by Florence White Williams. It is a folk tale that tells the story of a hard working hen who finds a grain of wheat, grows it, and turns it into bread. Throughout the tale she perseveres against the challenges and succeeds at what seemed like an impossible task.
That story has stuck with me and remains relevant to me today, though my challenges are slightly different than those of a chicken trying to grow wheat and bake bread.
My home town currently faces a challenge: there are no "just" book stores that appeal to the local readers and that carry a wide array of books. I want to answer that challenge, and open a book store for the community-a place people can gather, a place to learn new things, a place for children to come to and create memories (most of my earliest memories revolve around books and stories).
Here's where the Red Hen is asking for help:
What We Need & What You Get
I am asking for $5,000 to cover licensing fees and getting a website established, so I can start selling and generating business while I work on the "bricks" part of the clicks and bricks model.
Once the initial goal is met, additional funds will be directed toward the costs and development of the "bricks"-establishing a book store that people can visit to find books or conversation.
What's in it for you?
My everlasting gratitude-any amount will make a difference, just like a single grain of wheat grows into a head of wheat with many grains.
Knowledge that your contribution will ultimately benefit a community-once the bricks are in place, classes in life skills will be made available to the community, reading incentives will be provided to encourage children to read, and the money spent at the store will be recirculated into the community.
The Next Step
The next step from your contribution-a website is set up, and I start doing business and building up community awareness of the business. From that point, a physical location is the next goal. Once I have the funds, The Red Hen will move into a brick and mortar location, and I will be able to expand my inventory, start community classes in life skills, and provide a meeting place for early readers and avid book lovers to get together. Ideally, this will happen this year. Realistically, it may not, but this Red Hen likes to shoot for the ideal.
Challenges and Risks
The immediate challenge facing The Red Hen right now is getting off the ground. Once up and moving, the challenges keep coming, just as the Little Red Hen faced many challenges in her story. And just as the Little Red Hen kept moving forward, so will the store, meeting each challenge as it comes, and addressing or avoiding risks that come up.
Other Ways You Can Help
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You can share our story-with friends, with family, with everyone.
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Once you have made your contribution, give us a share.
- Once the website is up and running, stop by and see how we are doing.