Contributed by Tim
Matsu Valley Rebuild
Matsu Valley Rebuild needs help. We need 250 people/families/partnerships to donate $200 toward our first $50k down payment due in November.
MVR is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit used and surplus building materials store. Matsu Valley Rebuild provides an opportunity for used and surplus building materials to be diverted from the waste stream and recirculated into usefulness. We promote the benefits of sustainability through basic education, logical resourcing, and community-building. MVR works to strengthen the environmental, economic and community fabric of the Mat-Su Valley.
You may know Matsu Valley Rebuild is moving, that we bought a building and have ideas and plans for some cool stuff for the future; community programs and services to share, educate and inspire people. You probably know we are a non-profit and that no one owns MVR, that we have a board of directors that oversee any sizeable financial decisions; including the wage of our employee; me.
We entered into an agreement to buy a property and buildings because the building we were in was for sale, it was too small, had no parking and was way off the beaten path. Moving 5000 sq ft of inventory to another rental did not make sense; there are not many affordable and available options as it is and the prospect of moving all that stuff another time after that? Not so much, so I jumped on this opportunity.
The agreement we entered into was only possible because the owners of the building like what we are doing and what we want to do for the future of the Mat-Su community. They were willing to work with us on non-traditional terms instead of a 20%+ down payment due at closing.
Did you know MVR is not making a lot of money? With rent (even at a reasonable rate), paying one employee (a very humble wage), payroll expenses, utilities, insurance and the rest there is not much left over. The long winter and wet spring this year slowed things down for us as well.
Then why buy a building? Aside from facing an impending 30 day notice to vacate (and the subsequent end of MVR) …this new place gives us highway presence that will improve traffic significantly, undoubtedly boosting sales and donations. It also provides the opportunity to expand our footprint, to customize our footprint and to evolve with programs and services. It is a risk, and it is the critical turning point for MVR.
The agreement to purchase our new home included a $25k immediate down payment, which we had most of and raised with a generous donation from the North Lakes Community Council, some help from Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, the city of Palmer and small donations from residents and MVR shoppers. The agreement also includes a $200k non-traditional down payment over 12 months, $50k due every three months. Our first $50k is due by mid-November.
I have reached out to many larger sources for funding; the short window of time from when we began fundraising in June to finding a building just two weeks later did not help the effort. The fact that we have not previously applied for grants from these organizations did not help that effort either (they prefer to donate a little at first then proceed from there). Since I started MVR I have made an effort to pinch pennies and resources, the thought of requesting donations for things we did not need, only to pad future requests, did not occur to me. It is not the only thing I would do differently given another chance.
I also approached (and followed up with) over 50 area businesses and requested financial help, I requested assistance from 10 Mat-Su Community Councils as a well as visiting Rotary Clubs and other groups. The NLCC, MVFCU and the City of Palmer are the only supporters that have come through for us. I am obviously not a professional fundraiser, if I was, I would not be in this situation, and I probably would not have started a non-profit building materials operation in my garage almost 5 years ago.
But I did because I saw a problem and did something about it. I have also seen what this resource has done for a lot of people. People that really enjoy it, people that love shopping at MVR, people that are so thankful to not have to throw useful stuff away and people that could not have afforded to do projects and repairs without Matsu Valley Rebuild. It inspires me to keep swimming upstream. I know this store is important and helpful, I know the workshops, tool library and other programs will change a lot of lives in our Valley. I don’t want accolades or credit and I don’t want MVR to be “Tim’s place”. I just need some help to solidify MVR as a fixture in in the Mat-Su, I know we can change this Valley for decades and grow to become a hub of community and sustainability.
But I need help. MVR needs help; we need $50k by November 15. We are looking for 250 people/families/partnerships to donate $200 ASAP.
I still have requests out there for funding, but this payment is coming quickly. We also have a monthly payment staring October 1 and because we are moving, we do not have any income. Yes, our sales and donations will pick up but not enough to whip out $50k. And yes, we will have another $50k due in February, we will keep going after funding opportunities for that.
I know there is a lot I could have done differently. Respectfully, ideas, accolades or criticisms are not what MVR needs right now to survive. We need money. If you cannot afford it, I understand. If you can split it with a friend or two, cool. If you don’t care, I am surprised you are still reading. If you can afford it, maybe ask your place of work to match it? That would be great.
I am asking our community for help to keep this resource alive and growing. $200 from 250 sources, please help if you can. Thank you.
Checks:
Matsu Valley Rebuild
PO Box 511
Palmer, AK 99645
Go Fund Me – “Matsu Valley Rebuild”