Resource Center

                      

  
  
  
  
  
Dear Friend,

As the holiday season approaches and the Center's 30th year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on how far we have come since 1983.

In 1983 when the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic were painfully tangible, the community banded together. They collected food in a cardboard box at a Cedar Springs storefront to feed the sick and dying. Today, Resource Center's food pantry (our oldest continuously operating program) distributes 350 tons of food to over 2,000 HIV-positive individuals each year, enabling them to properly absorb their HIV medications and live long, healthy and productive lives.

In 1983, HIV was a mysterious and misunderstood illness; people with visible indications of HIV were shunned from public spaces and even turned away from hospitals. Today, Resource Center's hot meals program provides HIV-positive individuals with not only a daily nutritious lunch, but also social interaction with other people living with HIV, creating informal support groups, breaking down stigma and supporting mental health. 

In 1983, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people struggled silently, and possessed a limited vocabulary to express their experience. Over time, more and more LGBT youth have begun living open lives, but they nevertheless continue to be targets of violence, bullying and suicide. Today, Resource Center's newest initiative, Youth First, provides a safe and supportive space for LGBT teens through programming that builds confidence and life skills during the most critical, formative years.
 
In 1983, the LGBT community could not have predicted the unique challenges that the aging baby boomer generation would face in only a few short decades. Having grown up in an era when being gay was criminalized or regarded as a mental illness, members of this population have begun to find themselves newly vulnerable and in need of services. Today, Resource Center's Gray Pride program engages senior citizens through activities designed to combat isolation, create community and support mental health throughout the aging process.

While Resource Center has come a long way in the last 30 years, we still have a long road ahead. Please consider a gift this holiday season to ensure our success for the next 30 years.
  

With Warm Regards,

Cece Cox
Chief Executive Officer
Help us support
those who count
on us the most.
Hot Meals Program
Hot Meals Program
  
Youth First
  
Gray Pride
Gray Pride
Your gift makes
an impact!
$30 provides a daily hot meal for a person living with HIV for one month

$60 provides vital, fresh groceries for a  person living with HIV for one month

$100 provides an educational speaker and meal for a Gray Pride event

$350 provides a daily hot meal for a person living with HIV for a year

$500 provides a GED course for a member of Youth First
Visit Resource Center website
About Resource Center
Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities and providing transformative education and advocacy.