Help Me Keep My Dream Alive: A Small Business Owner in Need
Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
My name is Corey Coats, and I am a proud husband, father, and U.S. Army combat veteran. For the past 8 years, I've been building my auto repair shop in a small farming community in Western Nebraska. My goal has always been simple: provide for my family, serve my community, and build a business that I can be proud of.
But right now, I'm struggling.
Over the years, I’ve worked tirelessly—6 days a week, 10-12 hours a day—to keep my business running. I love what I do, and I love serving my customers. But the financial strain is becoming overwhelming. High interest rates, an SBA loan, and mounting credit card debt are all making it harder for me to keep up. Though I still have work coming in, the weight of these bills is slowly pulling me under. I’m finding it more and more difficult to keep up with my parts balances, and if I could just get those cleared, I know I’d be able to get back on track.
I’m doing everything I can to make this work for my family. We live a modest lifestyle, and I try to save Sundays for them, but the stress of managing both my business and personal life is taking its toll. I’ve thought about bankruptcy, but as a proud man who grew up on the Indian reservation where my parents ranched, I hate the idea of admitting defeat. My dad taught me one thing above all else—hard work. And I’ve always believed that if I work hard enough, things will get better. But I’m at a point where I need help.
It’s not easy for me to ask for assistance, but for the sake of my family, I’ve decided to swallow my pride. We’ve all been affected by the uncertainty of the last few years—COVID-19, low crop prices, and high inflation have hit us all hard—but I know that with a little bit of help, I can get back to doing what I love and supporting the people I care about.
I’m asking for your help to get my business through this tough time. With your support, I’ll be able to pay off my credit cards, clear the parts balances, and keep my shop open. The future is still uncertain, but I believe this will give me the breathing room I need to recover and continue to serve my community and family.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference. And if you’re unable to donate, I’d appreciate it if you could share this campaign with others who might be able to help.
I am forever grateful for your kindness and support.
With gratitude,
Corey Coats
Coats Auto & Diesel
