Hi there! This is Heather Halak and I’m writing this on behalf of two of my dear friends. Alex & Nikola, though they’ve only been active in the Gainesville community a little over a year, may be people in your life too. Alex is often the smiling face you see working doors at local shows, oftentimes for free just for the sake of community. Nikola, Alex’s partner, is often someone in the audience comforting a friend, when they aren’t having a bad chronic pain day and can muster all the spoons they can to leave the house. These sweet people need our help, and it’s time for community to show up for them in return for all they’ve done in the music / DIY scene (often working 2-3 or more shows a week on top of their regular jobs).

Alex was receiving disability checks until… yesterday, when he received a letter from

the gov stating 1) he’s made too much money at his part-time day job to receive disability (he made under the already very low cap of $1.5k) 2) he owes the gov $3k back for the last two months of disability checks. Despite Alex making several hundred less than the already small maximum for income he can make while still receiving disability, we are not so confident that the gov will make contesting this easy on Monday morning. And rent is due in just a few days — an expense he often covers with his check. Nikola already works two retail jobs despite being in a very serious accident that has led to a string of surgeries and spinal issues; they are still waiting and trying to get their own disability checks and it’s been months.

Life has been hard to so many of us the last few months, but if you could donate or share to help my friends make rent, I know I represent many of us who would be thankful for your love and support. Alex & Nikola have given a ton of free labor to foster a better scene, with more shows a night and more spots where you can see a band play. if Alex has worked door for a show your band has played, helped you at the dispensary, if Nikola has made a hard day easier after you ran into them, please consider donating and helping my friends. Thank you.