WISH Disaster Relief
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF A DISASTER HIT YOUR BUSINESS?
In 2019, the Edmonds Chamber Foundation created the WISH Fund (When Inconvenient Stuff Happens) to help small businesses get back on their feet after an unexpected disaster. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded to local businesses or organizations that have experienced damage – due to vandalism, burglary, fire, wind, flooding, etc. – and need help to cover the cost of repairs.
Download the WISH Fund Application
WISH Fund Recipients
July 2024 – Lavender Harvest Essentials
Pelindaba Lavender in Edmonds was a franchise of the Pelindaba Farm on San Juan Island until recently, when the farm abruptly stopped filling products orders from franchise owners with no explanation or communication. The website went down, owner was radio silent, and eventually a public announcement was made that the farm had closed.
Failure to deliver inventory, refund money, or pay commissions from the website left Aimee, the Edmonds owner, with bare shelves and little capital to reinvent herself. The Edmonds Chamber Foundation awarded Aimee $1,000 to help her pivot and rebrand her store as Lavendar Harvest Essentials, expanding her inventory to include artwork and gardening tools, while maintaining a lavender vibe.
August 2023 – Apple Catha Massage Therapy
Apple Catha was in a car accident that left her unable to work for several months. The Edmonds Chamber Foundation awarded Apple Catha Massage Therapy a grant to help pay rent while Apple Catha was recovering from her injuries.
August 2023 – La Casa de Amigos
La Casa de Amigos food truck was broken into and vandalized. Several items were stolen including the credit card processor, 2 ipads, cash, and the company cell phone. Additionally, there was damage to the door. A WISH Fund grant was awarded to help with the cost of replacing items and repairing damages.
May 2023 – Sno-King Quality Cleaning
Sno-King Quality Cleaning experienced a huge inconvenience when they were driving to a job site and the compressor strap broke causing damage in the vehicle when the heavy compressor knocked over mid-trip. “We are thrilled and deeply appreciative to have received a generous grant from the WISH Fund! Their commitment to our success and the prosperity of our community’s local businesses is truly commendable. Thank you, Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, for your generosity and partnership!” Kyle Wood, owner
February 2023 – Walnut Street Coffee
Walnut Street Coffee had an attempted break-in. The window was damaged and needed to be replaced immediately. “We are feeling so grateful for the quick and compassionate help from the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce’s Wish Fund after the attempted break-in at Walnut a few weeks back. As you can imagine, small businesses get their share of surprises with just the regular costs of doing business, repairing and replacing equipment, snow days, etc., but when you add the traumatizing annoyance of someone smashing your (expensive tempered) glass window, it can especially smart. So thanks to our Edmonds Chamber and Edmonds community for having our back. Please consider a donation to the Chamber’s Wish Fund so they’ll be ready to help the next small shop feel their community’s support when something like this happens.” – Pam Stuller, owner
October 2022 – Navi’s Catering Kitchen
Navi’s Catering Kitchen experienced theft/damage to the van fleet. Parts were stolen multiple times, and the incidents resulted in heavy damage to inside and outside the vehicles. “The Edmonds WISH Fund is an AMAZING program that helps individuals and/or companies in unfortunate struggling times. They were kind enough to seek us out after hearing about our company vans being vandalized continuously. The genuine kind hearts that help this organization is beyond amazing! Thank you again for all that you do for the community!” – Michelle Nye, Director of Operations
March 2022 – Midnight Cookie Co
Midnight Cookie Co, formerly located in Firdale Village, experienced an armed robbery at night in which employee property was stolen. A grant of $1,000 was awarded to recoup the cost of the employee’s stolen Cell Phone.
September – October, 2021 & June 2022 – Plum Tree Plaza Fire
After Qin Xi’an Noodles received a $1,000 grant for the Plum Tree Plaza Fire, we spread the word about the Wish Fund grant to the other business owners in the plaza. Several of them applied and also received funding to rebuild their businesses – some with new locations. These businesses included Tapioca Express, Wonton Noodle House, Aesthetics by G, Taste Rice Noodle and Waroeng Jajanan. Each recipient received a $1,000 grant.
September 2021 – Qin Xi’an Noodles
Qin Xi’an Noodles receives WISH Fund to Cover Losses from Fire.
In the early hours of September 11th a fire broke out at the Plum Tree Plaza in Edmonds. The 3-alarm blaze engulfed and destroyed several businesses, smoke and water damaged all others. In total, there are 14 businesses in the Plum Tree Plaza who are all affected to different degrees.
Qin Xi’an Noodles was one of those most impacted by the blaze. The costs to repair the damages, replace equipment, and pay insurance deductibles is not easy for any small business to absorb.
“The Edmonds Chamber Foundation is saddened to see so many great local businesses hurt by this tragic fire.” said Lillyan Hendershot, president of the Edmonds Chamber Foundation board. “We hope this $1,000 grant will assist Qin Xi’an Noodles in starting to rebuild and recover from this tragedy.”
“The Edmonds Chamber Foundation has capacity to provide three (3) WISH Fund grants immediately, but our hope is to provide grants to all fourteen (14) businesses in the Plum Tree Plaza.” said Greg Urban, President & CEO of the Edmonds Chamber. “We desperately need the public’s assistance to raise more funds. Donations to the Edmonds Chamber Foundation (501c3) are tax deductible and will assist in providing WISH Fund grants to these business owners.”
January 2021 – Chef Dane Catering
Chef Dane Catering receives WISH Fund to Cover Losses from Burglary.
Just before Thanksgiving Chef Dane Catering was the victim of an overnight business burglary. The thief broke through their front doors in stealing computers, petty cash and other items from their catering kitchen. The costs to replace equipment, repair the damages or pay high insurance deductibles is not easy for any small business to absorb.
“The Edmonds Chamber Foundation is saddened to see a great local business fall victim to burglary.” said Lillyan Hendershot, president of the Edmonds Chamber Foundation board. “We hope this $1,000 grant will assist Chef Dane Catering in covering a small part of the $8,000+ in losses from this incident.”
“Our business has always felt supported by the Edmonds Chamber and its members.” said Chef Dane and Carol Anne, owners of Chef Dane Catering. “This week that support was felt even greater when we received a WISH grant from the Edmonds Chamber Foundation. We’ve all been faced with recent challenges, but just before Thanksgiving, we were burglarized. Even with insurance, it’s still costly. The Foundation’s grant is helping offset our deductible and we are so thankful. In the past, we’ve been able to donate to the fund. It just goes to show that you never know when circumstances will put you in a position to be on the receiving end.”
April-November 2020 – Business-to-Business Support Grants
During the pandemic the Edmonds Chamber Foundation, with funding support from the City of Edmonds, awarded eighty-nine (89) Business-to-Business Support Grants through the WISH Fund.
This special grant program hired local professionals to work on behalf of another business. Some businesses needed websites, accounting services, new signage, graphic design or marketing services. The B2B Support Grants had a doubling effect, paying a local business to do the work and allowing the other business to get services free of charge.
June 2020 – Pear Tree Consignment
Pear Tree Consignment receives WISH Fund to Cover Losses from Burglary.
In June, Pear Tree Consignment was the victim of an overnight business burglary. The thief broke in stealing computers, cash box and merchandise from the store. The costs to replace equipment, pay owners for stolen consignment items and repair the damages is not easy for a new, small business to absorb.
“The Edmonds Chamber Foundation is saddened to see an Edmonds business fall victim to burglary.” said Lillyan Hendershot, president of the Edmonds Chamber Foundation board. “We hope this $1,000 grant will assist Pear Tree Consignment in covering the loss or insurance deductible so that they may be made whole again.”
“I’m so thankful to Greg Urban and his team at the Edmonds Chamber & Foundation for providing this WISH grant. Although experiencing a break-in just a week after we re-opened has been difficult, this grant will help us to recoup some of the losses. We are also so grateful for the support and kindness we’ve received from our customers, consignors, and the local businesses, and feel very proud to be part of this amazing community.“ said Christine Poirier, owner of Pear Tree Consignment.
OCTOBER 2019 – Sno King Youth Club
Sno King Youth Club Receives WISH Fund to Replace Vandalized Goal
The Edmonds Chamber Foundation is proud to announce the first recipient of the newly established WISH Fund.
This past month Sno-King Youth Club found one of their brand new soccer goals had been vandalized and damaged beyond repair. As a small non-profit organization operating on a tight budget, the cost to replace equipment is not an easy one to absorb.
“The Edmonds Chamber Foundation is excited to support a local organization who works with our youth, providing positive experiences for over 8,000 kids in the community” said Anne Penny, Edmonds Chamber Foundation board member. “Thank you to our generous community who have donated to the Edmonds Chamber Foundation supporting local scholarships and the WISH Fund.”