Donate to Quay's Eating Disorder and Mental Health Recovery

Hi friends (and for those who don't know me).

I'm Quay. I am a queer, non-binary baker born and raised in the Hudson Valley. My pronouns are they/them.

For as long as I can remember, I have been struggling with my mental health. It has effected my work, my relationships and over all, my life.

Almost two weeks ago, I voluntarily (with the suggestions of my mental health team) placed myself into Inpatient Psychiatric Care at Four Winds Hospital in Westchester County. I spent over a week there, working on my mental health, but struggling severely with my eating disorder while there. That facility isn't equipped with the professionals that I need for this specific disorder.

The next step in my recovery post-inpatient, is getting help for my eating disorder that I've greatly struggled with since I was 13 years old. I'm 30 now, so I've been dealing with this disorder for 17 years without ever getting help or treatment for it. I felt a lot of shame admitting I have an eating disorder, but just recently have been opening up about it more.

For the first time in a very long time, I am reaching out for support.

The treatment center that I will be attending is called Renfrew and the facility is based in lower Manhattan. I will be there for 6-8 weeks, 5-days a week.

I don't feel comfortable driving to Manhattan. They offer virtual but because of the longevity and severity of my ED, they (and myself) highly recommend in-person care.

With this, comes the cost of transportation by train, which will get me there on time without the stress of driving or taking the bus and potentially being late to my treatment.

This also means that I will be unable to work and make any sort of income while I'm in treatment.

I'm asking for support in being able to travel back and forth, twice a day for upwards of 8 weeks by train, gas for my hour commute back and forth from the train station to home, support in traveling back and forth once I start Intensive Outpatient Care (which I will travel to NYC as well), and to also help with the lack of funds that I will have, that will greatly help me financially through the inability to make a stable income. To be transparent, the cost of travel back and forth by train for 8 weeks alone is roughly $1,000 (which I think is insane), but it's important and it's what I need to do to recover.

Even if you're not able to donate, sharing this would be so greatly appreciated.

Thanks for listening and I thank my entire community for all the love and support I have received inpatient, as well as integrating myself back into society post-inpatient.

Nothing but total and complete gratitude for all of you. <3