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Join Benjii in support of Oasis and Rainbow Center's Creating Community Campaign

Benjii

1800 from 15 donors 3 updates 5000 goal
Why are Oasis and the Rainbow Center co-locating?
There are many reasons to co-locate, but here are just a few examples of why:

  • ·Both Oasis and Rainbow Center are simply out of space! Combined, the two entities receive about 200 visits per week and are open for drop-in about 45 hours a week between the two centers.
  • ·For the first time in 28 years, Oasis will be moving into a public location. This is largely to do increased and visible public support of Oasis and LGBTQ youth. As we move, we want to model a healthy coming out process and our youth-adult partnership.
  • ·Oasis and Rainbow Center have been collaborating more and more in recent years. Co-location takes our connection to the next level. By co-locating, we hope to serve more youth and adults, create a vibrant hub for community dialogue and interaction, and build on new and existing relationships in the community.
  • ·We want to make the most of the community’s generosity. It is just a better use of time and money to build one great shared kitchen, for example, rather than two mediocre kitchens.
What does co-location mean?
Co-location means that Oasis and Rainbow Center will be physically connected in a building we have chosen together through a community process. Oasis will have its distinct space and entrance and Rainbow Center will have its distinct space and entrance. We will also have shared space, including a kitchen, meeting area, and more. Shared spaces will be scheduled according to the needs of Oasis and Rainbow Center. Co-location means that we can share resources and make the best use of the community’s contributions.
How do I know my donation will make a difference?
All donors will receive a story and a photo about the progress of the construction. Stories may also highlight the life of someone positively changed through your donation!
Who will be handling my donation?
The Pierce County AIDS Foundation is a Tacoma, Washington based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They will handle the management and distribution of your donation.

 

Final Fundraising Push for Oasis Rainbow Center

Posted on July 1

Hi Friends! Tonight, I will be spending the evening “dialing for dollars” for the Creating Community Campaign with some of the area’s top elected officials and do-gooders. We are less than $50,000 from our first goal– with a couple of weeks to raise it to stay ahead of our construction payment schedule.

This is an amazing time for equality (DOMA, Prop 8)… but marriage equality is far from the only issue facing LGBTQ people here in Tacoma. Did you know that up to 40% of homeless youth in Pierce County are gay or lesbian? Do you know that every day, vulnerable seniors have to go back in the closet to access care at local nursing homes?

PLEASE ANSWER THE CALLS. This project will be literally life-saving for youth in crisis and isolated seniors. It will be community strengthening for Pierce County– creating a visible, accessible one-stop shop for LGBTQ and Allies who need services (housing, education, addictions, mental health, HIV) and for those of us who are blessed not to face those struggles and want to pay it forward.

The new space for Oasis and the Rainbow Center is coming along spectacularly well– the walls are up and painted, light is streaming through, and now the old-growth fir floors are being sanded in preparation for staining and sealing. Now, we’ve got one more construction payment before we can change our focus to furnishing the spaces and ramping up our services. PLEASE HELP TODAY.

I’ve fallen to second place in the individual fundraising on this online service, and I’m far from my $5,000 goal. That’s not where I’d like to be as co-chair of this campaign. I’d appreciate your support in helping put me over the top over the course of the next week or so.

I appreciate all of you for your support of me, and all the work we are doing together as a community.