My friend Ana Malena needs a little financial boost to get back on her feet after a run of bad luck.

We met when she was working at Zazzy’s Pizza before becoming a hostess at The White Horse and then the lead hostess at L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele. Always warm, always generous, always caring. But today, she could use a little warmth, generosity, and caring herself… from the City and Village she loves and calls home.

The thing is, for the past year she has been unable to work, and has been staying with mutual friends in Dallas. She’s now looking forward to moving back to NYC, resettling, working again — getting the medical care she still needs and being happy.

Unfortunately, the past year has wiped out her savings, and restarting from scratch in NYC is not feasible without a bit of a “war chest” to cover moving expenses, first month / last month / security on a place, and medical costs until she can get back to work.

To get that all rolling, a “launch fund” would be ever so helpful — essential, actually — and most gratefully appreciated. I’m asking you to invest what you can with this true gem of a New Yorker.

And if you happen to know of either a) an “apartment for share” opportunity, for cash or preferably barter for cooking and/or housekeeping or light attendant work, or b) a job opportunity in the hospitality industry, please drop us a note via the “contact organizer” feature.

Last, Ana would welcome the opportunity to reconnect with friends when she returns mid-September. So please don’t hesitate to provide your contact info via the “contact organizer” feature.

Our goal for this GoFundMe is $10,014 — the Greenwich Village zip code. It takes a village.

We’re counting on you. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

Michael Markowitz

& Chico