Friends helping Friends

2013 Gary and I bought what was a dying restaurant/bar in Grampian PA.  We took everything we had, financially, and physically and moved into the small area hoping to make a difference in the lives of people around us. 

Things were working very well initially, we were actually able to contribute over $12, 000.00 to people and non profits throughout the community our first year.  Then as we became people of the community in which we moved to, some in the community and surrounding area's turned against us, they found out that the two guys who moved in and began making changes were gay.

At first we ignored the sly comments made by other business owners, and people in the region.  We felt the community would rise above the ignorance of the few, but we were wrong. 

People began contacting us telling us of the crude and ignorance being spread about us, and our business not only by a few but actually being spread on websites, such as Topix.  People saying they witnessed gay sex acts, wrong.  People saying you could come to the family style restaurant and always leave with someone who was gay, wrong.  People renaming our business with the name Place of the Cocks Loadhouse (sorry if this offends anyone's sensativities, but I won't edit the vile comments to ease your tension), wrong.

2015, Gary went with our son's class fieldtrip to an amuesement park.  Many of the kids asked him to ride with them, so he did.  Little did he know, an amuesement ride would re injure a brain injury he suffered from an automobile accident in 2012.  Now we are faced with Gary not being able to help run the business because of this secondary injury.  He's left every day with pain and suffering until we see the specailists in Pittsburgh at UMPC.    Giving up our careers, giving up stable incomes, and health benefits has left us with nothing but prayers and hope.

For weeks people have been telling us to ask for help.  We've refused.  People say "you've given so much to the community and people in need, it's only right we help you in return".  Well, now I am asking for your help, we need assistance in paying medical bills, travel to doctors appointments, and time lost from our business because we can't be in more than one place at a time.

For those who like spilling their guts telling everyone in the community to stop supporting us because we are gay, so our business must be a gay restaurant and bar, please stop, you are killing what we have tried to build.  For those that do not care what is being said, please, we ask that you suppprt us, either here with funding, or simply by helping us by coming into the restaurant/bar and being loyal customers. 

I am shamed beyond belief to have to create this fund, but I have no other choice at this point, please help.