Providence Love Hangover Benefit for LA Fire Survivors

Hello from Jen Long!

For nearly a decade I've been producing a duet show on the day after Valentine's Day here in Providence, Rhode Island. It's called The Love Hangover, it's a blast, and you're invited to partake! It's a light-hearted, live music salutation to all the feelings you might wake up to this post-Valentine's day - be they afterglow, after-meh, afterburn or anything in between!

This year The PVD Love Hangover will be held at Myrtle in East Providence on Saturday, February 15, from 7pm to 11pm.

It's FREE! And it is a benefit for LA Fire Victims so please donate here if you can! And come enjoy an amazing night of live music and lovelorn antics in the loveliest bar in the area!

Featuring EmCee Lyd Vicious and amazing musicians including:

The Providence show is one of several Love Hangovers around the world that have been happening for over 25 years since our friend Richard Alwyn Fisher launched the concept in Raleigh, NC. It's been a joy to join Raleigh, Kansas City, New York, Berlin and other cities to carry the torch forward in 'Lil Rhody!

And every year The Love Hangover is a benefit - past beneficiaries of the Providence Love Hangover include The Children's Heart Foundation, Girls Rock RI, RIOT, and the Sound of Saving. In 2025, however, The Love Hangover will be dedicated to a cause not only out of state, but way over on the West Coast: helping the people of LA who have been affected by the devastating wildfires. We've all seen the frightening news images. With so many people having lost their homes and everything in them, it just felt right to dedicate the Love Hangover to helping them.

I'm also starting earlier and trying something new for 2025: this GoFundMe you are hopefully still reading! Typically, I have waited for the day of the show to take donations. Proceeds were in the $600 - $2000 range, and 100% was sent to the beneficiaries.

However, due to the enormity of the wildfires and the thousands of people affected, I am setting the highest goal I have ever tried to raise - $20,000. And through this GoFundMe you can begin donating as early as today even though the show doesn't happen until Saturday February 15th.

May I donate food or clothes?

Please know I have been in conversations with a dear friend in LA who, after returning safely from evacuation, has been volunteering in the fire shelters/donation centers. She noted that these stations are overwhelmed with food, clothing and bedding donations. They don't have the room or manpower to sort and store more. She mentioned that what people really need is cash or even gift cards, especially for national stores like Target. Everything needed from soap to clothing to furnishings can be obtained with such cards.

Where will my donation go?

My friend has also sent me a list of Fire Victim GoFundMe's with less than 20% of their goals reached. These listings have been verified by community members who personally know the neighbor listed. So we will be combing through this list to make direct donations from all proceeds.

How will you account for the donations?

Following the event (and no later than March 15, 2025), I will email a report detailing how and where 100% of the donations were directly distributed. This will be done through GoFundMe's "Thank You" feature.

So please consider making a donation!

(I'm writing this on my birthday, hint hint, nudge nudge, say no more!)

And whatever you do, please come to the

2025 PVD Love Hangover!

xo!

Jen