The local nonprofit Have A Gay Day has transformed a large storefront on Needmore Road into a food pantry and community center.
Executive Director Michael Knote says the location makes sense.
"There’s a lot of people in the community that said, 'You shouldn’t move there. It’s dangerous there.' But the thing is, we’re moving to where there's a need," he says. "This is where the tornadoes were. This is where there is Section 8 Housing. It’s also a food desert."
Have a Gay Day is working with the US Department of Agriculture and the nonprofit Feeding America to make sure people have access to healthy food.
Knote says that's a change from the way things used to be done.
"When I was homeless back in the day, they would give you a lot of pasta, a lot of things that were sugar, a lot of things that weren’t the healthiest," he says. "I like the fact that the community is becoming more conscious about what you’re putting in and the energy you’re getting out. It’s a huge conversation."
Have A Gay Day has built a little free pantry outside the storefront, so people can access food 24-7. They’ve also started doing some deliveries.
And Knote says the new space is more than a food pantry. They’ve hosted a wedding in the resource center. They’re lining up LGBTQ inclusive addiction services, and they want to play a role in finding emergency housing for community members in need.
You can find more information at www.haveagayday.org