While 2020 brought the unimaginable, through your support, we stretched our loving arms further than ever before. Just a few examples of what you made possible:
Through two food drives, we reached over 1,000 local Hispanic families with a week’s supply of groceries. The incomes of many Hispanic people have been adversely impacted as many work in the hospitality industry;
Our December food drive, which was opened to everyone, provided a week’s supply of food to over 800 families. The food drives brought about our new partnership with Feed More, which donated over 20,000 pounds of vegetables and meats;
Through our partnership with Black Pride RVA, we served Thanksgiving dinner to many, delivering food to the homeless;
During the summer, we held several drive-in drag shows in our parking lot, providing safe fun and also helping our beloved entertainers;
While facing uncertain times, we still continued our annual grants program, funding causes that battle LGBTQ violence; support LGBTQ youth; provide food for those in need; provide outreach to rural LGBTQ people; help LGBTQ veterans facing hardships and to connect with LGBTQ seniors;
This autumn, we co-hosted with VA Pride and Minority Veterans of America a Black Lives Matter march in our parking lot, attracting over 1,000 people;
We were proud to donate space to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and Richmond Superintendent of Schools, Jason Kamras to update the community on local COVID programs;
We also donated the event hall to the Henrico-Richmond Health Districts for COVID testing four times as well as for news conferences for pandemic updates;
It was an honor to partner with Equality Virginia and host Governor Ralph Northam and numerous elected officials as they signed the Virginia Values Act during a news conference in our event hall, making Virginia the first southern state to provide LGBTQ protections;
Due to volunteer efforts, we continued through on-line activity, the work of Iridian Gallery, the South’s only gallery dedicated to supporting LGBTQ artists;
These are but a few examples of 2020. It is only through your support that we do what we do. Wishing you a healthy and safe 2021 which will be better for us all!
Governor Ralph Northam signs the Virginia Values Act at Diversity Richmond
Over 1,000 people joined our Black Lives Matter March (above)
We provided snacks for Black Lives Matter at VCU (below)
Volunteers prepare for our first food drive
Diversity Thrift provided free fabric for the making of hundreds of facial masks.
We donated the event hall to the Henrico-Richmond Health Districts for COVID testing as well as for news conferences for pandemic updates
We were creative in our COVID safety protocol messages
Our drive-in drag shows showcased lots of local talent
