Help Build an LGBTQ+ Center in Rural NW Virginia

Dear Friend:

I am excited to share the latest progress on the AIDS Response Effort (ARE) LGBTQ+ Center. We have made significant strides toward creating a safe and affirming space for the LGBTQ+ community and individuals living with HIV. We are pleased to announce that flooring installation is scheduled for March, marking an important milestone in our renovation efforts. However, we still seek funding for the ceiling replacement to ensure the center is fully functional and welcoming.

ARE’s staff recently held a clean-up day to remove the dust and debris from the wall removal late last year. Yesterday, the center’s co-directors picked up a full SUV-load of donated clothing for the center’s Trans Closet. And our food pantry continues to grow, despite the center being closed to the public for renovation. People needing clothing and food are making appointments to shop on a regular basis, and word is spreading. Our dedicated volunteers also have been meeting monthly at the center to tackle various tasks on the project list, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to our mission.

We are eagerly planning for a grand opening in June, and your continued support is crucial in helping us achieve this goal. In this uncertain federal funding climate, we are in great need of recurring individual donors. Please consider becoming a recurring donor and sharing this update with your friends. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV need a safe and affirming space now more than ever, and your generosity can make a lasting impact.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Warm regards,

Nancy

Links:

• ARE LGBTQ+ Center webpage

• Winchester Star article on the renovation (PDF)
  

Dear Friends:

Since our last update, we are pleased to report the first phases of our LGBTQ+ Center renovation have begun. For the next couple of months, the building will be empty, but we are continuing our support groups, events and other activities at ARE’s clinical office nearby. It’s a tight squeeze, but the response from the community has been extremely positive.

Phase I, now completed, was a major window replacement project, involving the removal of several broken floor-to-ceiling windows and crumbling frames and sills.

Phase II kicked off on October 15 with a Demo Day Celebration at the center. Staff, supporters and volunteers gathered to take a whack at the interior walls with a ceremonial sledge hammer and celebrate with cake and sparkling cider. The following day, ARE’s contractor began knocking down the interior walls in earnest to create a safer and more welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families.

Phase III will involve the installation of an ADA-approved wheelchair lift to make ARE’s LGBTQ+ inclusive and equitable for all. We have created a separate project on GlobalGiving to raise funds specifically for the wheelchair lift. If you are interested in supporting that project as well, please visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/are-lgbtq-center-needs-a-wheelchair-lift/.

Wiith deepest gratitude,

The ARE Staff and Volunteers

Links:

• Winchester Star article about Demo Day
• Window replacement begins in earnest.