The Wall of VHS

My name is Josh Guarino. Since 2015 I've run @thewallofvhs on Instagram. It's been a nearly decade-long endeavor between building my archive through hunting in the wild and digitizing countless hours at home, and the work I've put into the page has been the most fulfilling of my life. I've happily supported this project with my savings and spare time over the years.

Unfortunately late last year my life took a serious turn for the worse. A mental health episode left me unemployed and without reliable transportation. Since I live in a rural area, this led me to almost complete isolation and prevented me from working and getting the help I need to manage my mental health.

It's been a very difficult year. Because of my financial situation, I am about to be evicted from my apartment where I house the entirety of my archive. Losing my apartment means potentially losing everything, as I currently do not have the means to relocate or move my archive into storage.

So many kind folks from Instagram have already donated via Venmo to help me in the coming days, weeks, and months, and many more have suggested I start a fundraiser here. It is my hope that with your support, I can get back on my feet and begin my journey back to a healthy, happy, and productive life.

As much as I'd prefer to stay in my home, get back on the road, and get back on my feet, I know that is an incredibly large ask. Right now my immediate needs are for a used car and for funds to move some, if not all, of my archive into storage. Losing my archive would devastating and severely affect my ability to continue this work in the future. Should I receive enough to convince my landlord to let me stay, I promise to make the most of this second chance. With reliable transportation, I know I can get back to my previous levels of self-sufficiency while also getting the help I need to lead a healthier, happier life. It will also save me from the harmful effects that an eviction will have on me when it comes to finding housing in the future.

But no matter what level of help I receive through this fundraiser, please know that I am extremely grateful for all the love and support I've received from my community on Instagram since sharing my story. I sincerely don't know how I would move forward without you guys right now. I'm so happy to hear that this page has given you the same joy and happiness it's given me for the last seven years. I hope I can eventually continue that work in the future.

Thank you,

Josh