Get Jenny and Skylar out of Texas

Hi, this is Megan and I am fundraising to help my best friends Jenny and Skylar move to a state which has more social support programs and is more LGBTQ+ friendly.

I have known Jenny since 2010 when we met at the Rocky convention in LA. Jenny is such a sweet individual and she has always been the type of person to know when you're really not okay and be there for you. She's a great listener and always stands up for others. She really is the best friend you could ask for.

Jenny met Skylar (He was her Uber driver!) in 2017. Skylar has been an activist and advocate in his LGBTQ+ community for years. Even since I have known him, he is always thinking of others and looking for ways he can help. 

They got married during the pandemic and they couldn't be more perfect for each other. Jenny is always gushing over Skylar and any time I am over at their place, Skylar is super attentive to Jenny.

Skylar and Jenny have been barely hanging on with the economy and local government infrastructure. They have relied heavily on rent relief programs, food banks, animal shelters, art income, and friends and family the last year just to get by. I've seen their fridge. It's always empty.

Now that it's a new year, funding is being cut for COVID relief. With that, the chance of getting renewed for rental and utility assistance, including back rent, has decreased to zero. They can't stay where they are because they already owe 5 months' rent and it's only a matter of time before they are asked to leave.

I wish it stopped there. Jenny and Skylar both have chronic illnesses that cause them immense amounts of pain. Skylar has fibro and arthritis in his spine so he has a hard time sitting or standing very long. Jenny is just starting on her diagnosis journey. It's been scary. I have seen my best friend lose her speech and heard her voice sound like a downgraded dj spinning on vinyl (I joke only so I don't cry) (don't worry, she does, too). Her doctors have mentioned MS, strokes, seizures, and many other super scary things and want her to see a neurologist ASAP. It kills me that this is happening to her.

Despite all of this, Jenny and Skylar do everything they can to earn money, including creating art and selling it on Etsy. I see how hard it is for them to do things. One or both of them is almost always using a mobility device. I have heard them cry out in pain and just collapse because they didn't have a choice. They can't hold a regular job due to everything going on health-wise with both of them. Yet, they wake up every day and keep trying to get ahead of this. It's just not enough and they need help.

That's where the problem begins and why this fundraiser is very important. 

Jenny and Skylar fall into the middle ground of "too poor" and "not poor enough" so they end up ineligible for many assistance programs. They have been trying for a full year to find a neurologist that would work with them on a payment plan. Every day is another hurdle they have to jump. In order to give them the best chance, they need to move to another state with more programs and family nearby to help. Jenny's health depends on it. With everything this illness could be, it's not something they can continue to wait on.

I created this fundraiser for them to help them move closer to family and to a state that offers more medical, housing, case management, and LGBTQ+ resources. The funds would cover their first few months of rent, utilities, medication, gas, and food so they had some time to breathe and focus on their health and get connected with assistance.

Please share, even if you can't help financially. I want my best friends to get the help they need.