‘Gr8 Comeback’: Indiana Independent Venue Alliance
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Live-entertainment venues are waiting for the chance to get business back up to full speed and thanks to the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance several of them have banded together to have a chance of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the meantime, they’re helping people with an even greater need: homeless neighbors at the Horizon House. The alliance called the event Sock On. During a three-week donation drive, the venues collected more than 500 pairs of socks for people the nonprofit serves.
“We love all of our donations but we know that this came from the heart,” said Teresa Wessel, Horizon House executive director.
Wessel says the donation was special because she knows the live-entertainment venues were among the businesses hit-hardest by COVID-19 shutdowns; many are still trying to get relief before getting back to normal.
Seema Choudhary, owner of Carnahan Hall came from Lafayette to participate in the Sock On drive. She’s hopeful for the future of her business. “It’s really tough because we’re hoping that events are going to be able to come back as they were, but we know it’s going to be different. We know it’s going to be the new normal.”
Mike Quarto owns The Mousetrap Bar & Grill in Indianapolis. His place is also struggling, yet the donation drive helped him put things in a different perspective. “As bad as it can be out there, there’s people in much much worse shape right now. Going through COVID and being homeless? I can’t imagine.”
Josh Baker, owner of HI-FI Indy and founder of the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance, said, “I think this was just a great chance for all of us to just kind of band together and help some folks out. That’s what Hoosiers do.”
Go online to learn more about supporting the members of the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance and their upcoming events.