Rebuilding After Losing Everything

Aim

Help me rebuild after losing everything I owned. I’ve secured a new home and need support replacing furniture, clothing, and essentials.

My name is Rhashamel Brooks. I’m a student, chef, entrepreneur, and the owner of Pause Collective Catering. I’ve spent years building a career in hospitality and working toward creating a business of my own—one that allows me to use my experience, creativity, and passion for food to create memorable experiences for others.

Recently, my life changed very quickly.

After dealing with a serious illness and losing my housing, I packed everything I owned into a U-Haul while transitioning to temporary accommodations. During the move, I made an illegal turn, was stopped, and ultimately arrested. The U-Haul was impounded with virtually everything I owned inside.

While I was still in custody, my belongings were disposed of. I was released the following day and learned that my clothing, furniture, electronics, identification, personal belongings, and many of the items I had worked hard to acquire were gone.

Among those belongings were things I had invested in to build and operate my catering business. Losing them wasn’t simply losing possessions—it meant losing tools, equipment, supplies, and resources that represented years of work and investment in becoming self-sufficient.

But my story doesn’t end there.

I have secured a new home, I’m continuing my education, and I’m determined to rebuild Pause Collective Catering rather than allow this experience to end what I started.

My vision is to rebuild a stable foundation for both my life and my business. I want to continue growing Pause Collective Catering, serving families and businesses throughout the community, creating opportunities for others, and completing my education while building something sustainable for my future.

Funds raised will help me replace essential furniture and clothing, obtain the electronics and school supplies I need to continue my education, replace important documents, and purchase essential catering equipment and business supplies so I can continue accepting clients and generating income.

I’m not asking to replace every single thing I lost. I’m asking for help replacing the foundation I need to move forward.

Every donation, share, and word of encouragement helps me get closer to rebuilding my home, continuing my education, and getting my business fully back on its feet.

I lost the things I built, but I haven’t lost the vision that helped me build them.

Thank you for being part of my fresh start.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th September 2026 at 4:31pm CDT