diff --git a/payment/stripelib.py b/payment/stripelib.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7428b1ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/payment/stripelib.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import stripe
+
+# should load the keys for Stripe from db -- but for now just hardcode here
+try:
+    from regluit.core.models import Key
+    STRIPE_PK = Key.objects.get(name="STRIPE_PK").value
+    STRIPE_SK = Key.objects.get(name="STRIPE_SK").value
+    logger.info('Successful loading of STRIPE_*_KEYs')
+except Exception, e:
+    STRIPE_PK = 'pk_0AnIkNu4WRiJYzxMKgruiUwxzXP2T'
+    STRIPE_SK = 'sk_0AnIvBrnrJoFpfD3YmQBVZuTUAbjs'
+    
+stripe.api_key =  STRIPE_SK   
+    
+# if you create a Customer object, then you'll be able to charge multiple times. You can create a customer with a token.
+
+# https://stripe.com/docs/tutorials/charges
+
+def create_customer (card=None, description=None, email=None, account_balance=None, plan=None, trial_end=None):
+    """card is a dictionary or a token"""
+    # https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#create_customer
+
+    customer = stripe.Customer.create(
+        card=card,
+        description=description,
+        email=email,
+        account_balance=account_balance,
+        plan=plan,
+        trial_end=trial_end
+    )
+    
+    # customer.id is useful to save in db
+    return customer
+
+# if customer.id doesn't exist, create one and then charge the customer
+# we probably should ask our users whether they are ok with our creating a customer id account -- or ask for credit
+# card info each time....
+
+def create_charge(amount, currency="usd", customer=None, card=None, description=None ):
+# https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#create_charge
+# customer or card required but not both
+# charge the Customer instead of the card
+# amount in cents
+    charge = stripe.Charge.create(
+        amount=int(100*amount), # in cents
+        currency=currency,
+        customer=customer.id,
+        description=description
+    )
+    
+    return charge
+
+def refund_charge(id):
+    # https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#refund_charge
+    ch = stripe.Charge.retrieve(id)
+    ch.refund()
+    return ch
+
+def list_all_charges(count=None, offset=None, customer=None):
+    # https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#list_charges
+    return stripe.Charge.all(count=count, offset=offset, customer=customer)
+    
+# key entities:  Charge, Customer, Token, Event
+# IPNs/webhooks: https://stripe.com/docs/webhooks
+
+# charge object: https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#charge_object
+# need to study to figure out db schema
+
+# all events
+# https://stripe.com/docs/api?lang=python#list_events
diff --git a/payment/templates/stripe.html b/payment/templates/stripe.html
index 8cc5dd01..949150bc 100644
--- a/payment/templates/stripe.html
+++ b/payment/templates/stripe.html
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 <script type="text/javascript">
     // this identifies your website in the createToken call below
-    Stripe.setPublishableKey('pk_0AnIkNu4WRiJYzxMKgruiUwxzXP2T');
+    Stripe.setPublishableKey('{{STRIPE_PK}}');
 </script>
 
 <script type="application/x-javascript">
diff --git a/payment/views.py b/payment/views.py
index bea0870d..b1017140 100644
--- a/payment/views.py
+++ b/payment/views.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from regluit.payment.paypal import IPN
 from regluit.payment.models import Transaction
 from regluit.core.models import Campaign, Wishlist
 
+from regluit.payment.stripelib import STRIPE_PK
 from regluit.payment.forms import StripePledgeForm
 
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -332,6 +333,20 @@ class StripeView(FormView):
     template_name="stripe.html"
     form_class = StripePledgeForm
 
+    def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
+        
+        context = super(StripeView, self).get_context_data(**kwargs)
+    
+        context.update({
+                'STRIPE_PK':STRIPE_PK
+                })
+        return context
+    
     def form_valid(self, form):
         stripeToken = form.cleaned_data["stripeToken"]
-        return HttpResponse("stripeToken: {0}".format(stripeToken))
\ No newline at end of file
+        # e.g., tok_0C0k4jG5B2Oxox
+        # 
+        return HttpResponse("stripeToken: {0}".format(stripeToken))
+        
+        
+        
\ No newline at end of file