SOUTH BERWICK (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Madison’s Café in South Berwick is a food joint with a mission. They exclusively employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Their first year of business—was pretty smooth. But six months ago- café owners noticed a dip in customers, and cash.
Co-owner Nicole McCoomb said, "We kept saying this month's gonna be better, this month's gonna be better, and the months just weren't getting any better."
The café is battling parking problems and high overhead. Time is running out on their building lease. Right now, they need $20,000 just to stay open through December.
Nicole McCoomb opened this café to honor her daughter, Madison. The thought of losing it is too much to bear,
"This is so important, and if it goes away, then what? As a mom it's like, wait a minute, we failed her. I can't fail her."
Employees at Madison’s are feeling the pressure. They say losing their work family- would be devastating.
"I’ve been able to meet new people here, I made friends here in my tenure, I made friends that I will have for my life," employee Daniel Patstone said.
"It was just difficult enough trying to get this job. When i walked in to an interview I was really nervous. It took a lot out of me to just walk through those doors," employee Alex Ferguson said.
The South Berwick community is pulling together to try and help Madison’s doors stay open.
State rep-elect Tiffany Roberts-Lovell started a Go Fund Me page Tuesday night.
"All local businesses are so crucial to our town and to our way of life, and I had to start something and it was the night before elections…and I didn't have a lot of time. So I said I am going to start a Go Fund Me, I am going to get the word out there that she’s in trouble," Roberts-Lovell said.
The staff hopes the community's response will be enough.
"I just hope enough people will take their time and care as much as we do here," Ferguson said.
CLICK HERE for link to Madison's Cafe
CLICK HERE for link to Go Fund Me