Hello everyone! My name is Natalia or some of you may know me as, Lia. Many few of you know my current situation and I have been very careful about oversharing about this because of embarrassment but I am in need of help!


I have been in need of a new car because mine is in terrible shape and has been for a while. Every mechanic I take my car to says the repairs will cost me upwards of $3,000 and I do not have that type of money laying around. And honestly with that kind of money I might as well get a used car instead of trying to repair my car that I have continued to invest thousands of dollars in repairs.


Many of you know me through Lia Memorie Studios and you can also probably tell that is has been my sole responsibility and obligation. When I opened up the studio I was extremely happy to finally accomplish my dream but given the circumstances of COVID and the stay at home order, things have been extremely troublesome, and business has been very slow for me. Not only has it been difficult to get to the studio at all, it has been even harder to stay above water with the business.  It has been extremely difficult for me to afford to get a new car with all of the business expenses. I do not have a business loan for wiggle room to focus financially solely on getting a car. For the past year I have chosen to continue to investing in the studio/business instead of a car but it has gotten to the point where I can't make it to work without reliable transportation. I know it is important to disclose what is wrong with my car to ensure the trust that I am serious about the damages to my car: my strut mounts are completely destroyed, engine mounts are also in terrible shape and need to be replaced, my AC compressor is completely busted, and other minor fixes. For those who do not know what that means, I cannot currently drive more than 45 mph, my car shakes so bad it feels like the wheels are coming off, and have no AC. Summer is here in Texas and it extremely unsafe and uncomfortable to get from point A to point B. I was instructed to actually stop driving my car until I got it fixed but I genuinely have no other option. I have been embarrassed to ask for help and I thought if I kept selling art and earrings I could make ends meet and be done with this anxiety but I unfortunately have not been able to.  


I have been looking for a couple weeks and I know I can get a decent used car for $3,000-5,000 that will last me at least a couple years. Honestly all I care about is being able to drive to the studio, go the speed limit and have AC. I do not care for anything fancy with extra "wants" like a bluetooth radio and GPS. I just need a used car to get me from home to work so my dream doesn't sink. 


I know asking for a penny from anyone at this moment in time has so much weight. Everyone is suffering, has been affected, and more importantly everyone has as been experiencing the wrath of the economy themselves. People have lost their jobs, businesses, lives. It is a lot to ask and that is why I have refrained from doing so for so long. I completely understand if you cannot donate and if you can't please consider sharing this so I can finally get the reliable transportation I need to sustain my business. 


Thank you for taking the time to read about my current situation! Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated!! 

-Nat