Support Stephanie's Fight for Housing Stability

Hello, and thank you for taking a moment to hear my story. I’m Stephanie Gravalese, food writer, passionate about sharing stories about food culture in America and around the world,

In 2022, in addition to my freelance writing, I created Slow Living Kitchen — a platform designed to share my knowledge of foraging, preservation and seasonal cooking, all with the goal of connecting others to nature through our food.

My website, a labor of love, had become my main source of consistent income and has allowed me to share knowledge about preservation and much more with the world in addition to freelancing for digital publications which overall has less stability.

Tragically, Google’s March 2024 algorithm update severely affected visibility and traffic to my site, and my income plummeted by 80%. I wasn’t alone; many similar sites suffered the same fate, with no visible end to this downturn.

The timing couldn’t have been worse—the world feels precarious, particularly for those of us in the journalism. Despite relentless efforts to secure gigs and more stable employment in a saturated market, the competition is overwhelming, with hundreds competing for the same scarce opportunities.

This unexpected blow has hit hard, temporarily destabilizing my financial position and making rent payments increasingly impossible, among other critical expenses. It’s a daunting reality I’m facing head-on, though not without a great deal of stress.

This GoFundMe is a call for aid — to help me tackle overdue rent and snowballing financial obligations. Freelancing offers no unemployment safety net, so I find myself leaning on community support for the first time.

While a long-term contract job awaits me just one month away, the pressing concern is meeting my rent obligations to avert a potential eviction crisis.

Your support, whether financial, networking or through spreading the word, is critical at this time. Contributions will directly cover two months’ rent and urgent utilities, offering the much-needed stability until my new project begins.

With your help, I can achieve financial stability and continue to make meaningful contributions to the food writing field.

Consider this my 'tip jar' if my work has ever touched or helped you. No contribution is too small; every bit is a stepping stone toward stability.

Even if we are strangers, know that your kindness is immeasurably appreciated.

For those wishing to maintain privacy, please note there is an option to donate anonymously.

I will forever remember the kindness extended to me during this difficult time.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or wish to discuss other forms of support, please do not hesitate to reach out.