MacGravel Needs Our Help!

[Dj_Ossa]

Hello, everybody.

For more than 15 years, StepMania has held a special place in my heart. And, even though I don't play the game anymore and haven't been actively involved in pack development for a long time, this community has given me the opportunity to make long lasting friendships that continue to this day.

For those of you that are not familiar with MacGravel, he has had a significant role in the development of the StepMania community. From leading and being directly involved in major community-driven pack releases such as the Video Game Mega Pack series, SMGroove packs, Red Fraction, Dark Chancellors, among many others, to developing the beloved Orbular noteskin and pioneering X-mod charts, MacGravel's love and selfless contributions to this community have positively impacted StepMania as a whole. Most importantly, MacGravel is a loving husband and amazing father to a beautiful baby girl and a 3-month old baby.

Recently, due to events out of his control, MacGravel is being forced to relocate his mobile home within 30 days. Blindsided and with limited funds, this task seems impossible to accomplish, leaving MacGravel and his family with a very real possibility of becoming homeless in the near future.

I am reaching out to the StepMania community with the aim of helping MacGravel, a member that has devoted so much love and time to this community, and his family during this terrible times.

Below is the link to the GoFundMe campaign that has been set up for this purpose. I you can't donate, please consider sharing this post and the link to the campaign.

Thank you so much for your time.

Stay strong, MacGravel!

MacGravel's GoFundMe Campaign

[Rebirth0]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

MacGravel is/was indeed a pillar in the development in parts of the game we have seen over the last 10-15 years. I've used the Orbular noteskin since it was created. We also cannot forget the creativity in his excellent xmod simfiles. He always contributed one file to each pack I made over the years, but each file was excellent.

I donated $40 to the cause. I know three days have gone by without much reaction to this thread. We were all poor when we all played at the height of our playing era, but now more of us should have the means to do something. I also ask for people in the FFR/SM community to consider a donation. Not much money from a decent number of people can go a long way.

[MixMasterLar]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Gave some now, will likely give some after the month's bills are squared away.

Justice was telling me about this very scenario a few weeks ago becoming common; that landlord's where evicting trailers with the hope that the trailer becomes abandoned (moving trailers is exspensive as fuck)and then they can rent it out at higher prices. Apparently it's perfectly legal and becoming common in the southwest or something.

It fucking sucks anyone has gotten caught in that, but more so now that one of our own has now. Even if we can't earn the money to move his trailer, I'm sure we can get enough 5 dollar donations to get them renting someplace else

[gold stinger]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

can't donate myself but bumping thread for posterity because it's pretty important.

[dAnceguy117]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

thanks for the bump - I'd missed this. seconding rebirth's call to action; any of us who can, should.

[Shadow_God_10]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Keep this thread alive. Big Mac, to me, was one of the reasons I started making files. I'll donate as soon as I get paid next

[MixMasterLar]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Thread really should be moved to somewhere it can be seen more

Anyway I want to say I'm proud this community is stepping up to the call.

[MarioNintendo]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

*farts*

[MixMasterLar]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

What's the update on this? It looks like momentum has stopped for donations

Did they at least find a mobile park to crash at?

[Shadow_God_10]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

I was literally looking for this thread and couldn't find it. It's been bumped now but I'm bumping to the top because this shouldn't die. I get paid this Friday and I'll be able to donate.

[macgravel]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Wow, you guys are insane. A huge, massive thanks to Ossa for posting and everyone else that donated/shared. I'm blown away by you guys! <3

These past 2 months have been CRAZY. It feels like we've been living in an M. Night Shyamalan movie with all of the shitty twists we've gone through. To make an incredibly long story into a somewhat shorter story:

We contacted a guy from HUD (The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development). He wanted a copy of our lease, which they never gave us when they took over. So the eviction was nulled. Yay! Afterwards, they gave us a new lease, and told us it renews every 30 days. So now for whatever reason they want, they can just as easily tell us to get out and we'll be right back in the same shituation. Obviously we're not going to stick around for that, and we've been constantly looking for somewhere else to go. That's been ridiculous in itself.

Well, turns out my grandpa is willing to let us have the old house and land we used to live in back when I was a little butt butt baby. Ecstatic, we drive out there to check the place out. The house has been completely vandalized. All of the walls and ceiling have been knocked out, the wires and pipes have been stolen, and there's just trash covering every inch of what remains of the floors. That sucks, yes, but whatever, we can still have the land and move our trailer out there, right? Apparently not. The city and the tax assessor have completely given the majority of my grandpa's land to his neighbors for whatever reason. Nobody can prove which land is and isn't theirs. And since my grandpa can't find his deed either, the city decided to "take it back". So we got in touch with a land surveyor and told him the story, and he said he can do some research, survey the land, and HOPEFULLY get this situation figured out. So now we're waiting to hear back from him, which he said he should be done this week.

Thank you guys so much. You're all absolutely incredible people and I'm grateful to call you my friends.

P.S. I've got some stepmania announcements coming soon. Nothing too crazy, so don't get your hopes up!

[SubaruPoptart]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Hopin y'all get that sorted out mate! I know nothin about legal stuff but from what was said that sounds complicated af so good luck with all that!

[dAnceguy117]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

that's an unbelievable amount of bullshit to deal with. best of luck to y'all. <3

[Skikamukazi]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Holy shit, talk about a blast from the past! Mac, can you give us an update about how you're doing or how things worked out?

[revolutionomega]

Re: MacGravel Needs Our Help!

Holy shit, talk about a blast from the past! Mac, can you give us an update about how you're doing or how things worked out?

Seconded. I can certainly help with a small donation if that is still something that is needed.