A Request for Community Support for Many Rivers Books and Tea

Current Status

Many Rivers Books & Tea, a bookstore and tea shop, has operated in Sebastopol since its founding in 2002 as a non-profit organization under the sponsorship of Tayu Order, a 501(c)3 religious organization in Sebastopol.

The founders of Many Rivers wish to retire and sell the store to a new non-profit organization, Many Rivers Foundation, which will seek its own 501(c)3 designation as a community educational resource.

Plan

The store will continue to do business as “Many Rivers Books & Tea,” and provide sales of books, particularly those relating to a diversity of traditional and modern spiritual/wisdom practices and traditions, inspiration, and psychology; and aids, talismans, icons, etc. supporting spiritual practice; as well as fine teas and tea ware.

Store hours will increase

From:

11 AM – 6 PM Mon – Sat Weekly

To:

11 AM – 6 PM Mon – Sat Weekly

12 PM – 4 PM Sun Weekly

and:

6 PM – 10 PM Thurs Weekly for speaking events, book launches,

2 PM – 3:30 PM Sat Monthly for tea tasting events

The Foundation and the store will be managed and operated by Karl Frederick and Grady Kallenbach.

Budget

The budget and staffing plan for 2025 shows a potential 2025 operating deficit of $40K after contributions by Frederick and Kallenbach through a loan of ~$5K to secure the initial month’s rent and deposit), and ~$15K in the value of unpaid staff hours and associated taxes for the hours to support Thursday night events (weekly), monthly tea tastings, and Sunday afternoon sales hours.

The remaining deficit, $40K, is sought from the community. If more funds than that are contributed, they will be used for upgrades to the aging computer system, display shelving, tea packaging equipment, and any other areas where updating might improve efficiency.

How to Support

Tax deductible contributions, clearly designated for “Many Rivers Foundation,” may be made to:

Tayu Order, Inc, P.O. Box 2377, Sebastopol, CA 95473

or delivered to the store at 130 S. Main St., Suite 101, Sebastopol, CA 95472. You may also contribute online through our GoFundMe fundraiser at: gofund.me/10f991db or by scanning this QR code:

For further information, please contact:

Karl Frederick

(707) 861-0817

kwf@mindspring.com