When a Dayton nonprofit, Have A Gay Day, received a $10,000 grant to fill its food pantry, they used the money to not just fight hunger but also boost local businesses.
Have A Gay Day is a nonprofit focused on creating a safe environment for equality, education, and support of the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
One of their services includes a busy food pantry, which gave out over 86,000 pounds of food for the 2022 fiscal year.
When Have a Gay Day was granted $10,000 from Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services to stock up their pantry, Executive Director Michael Knote said they intentionally chose to shop at eight local stores.
The grocery runs ranged between $700 to around $1,800 and included stores like International Halal Market, La Michoacána Mexican Market, Gem City Market, Dots Market and others.
Knote said this grant will have a ripple effect through the area.
“So it's not just a single give. It's a give to the community through supporting local business and then a give back into the community through the pantry, offering up these fresh items; a variety of things that probably some have never seen before,” he said.
Knote said community members can expect the organization to do more initiative in the future like this grocery grant as Have A Gay Day grows.
