Over the next few weeks, you might notice a stand with a rainbow flag at some businesses in Erie or Niagara Counties, where school supplies are being collected. Niagara Pride is holding its second annual backpack drive specifically for LGBTQ+ students.
A Need For Community
As Mark Smith shares, there's a real need for community for people who are LGBTQ+ in Niagara County. He's part of the board of Niagara Pride, a non-profit organization that provides educational programming, does charitable work, hosts social gatherings, and offers free diversity and inclusion training.
On Friday, he sat at a table draped with a rainbow flag in Hyde Park, accepting backpack donations for their second annual school supplies drive. He shared what it's been like to see the community respond.
"It's heartwarming. [As] someone who grew up in Niagara Falls left came out and then came back. There's always been a feeling that we have to look to Buffalo for ways to express our sexuality. And now that Niagara Pride is in Niagara County, we're seeing that there is a need for an organization that services and helps and is just a sounding board or a social outlet for people who can't, won't, or just don't want to drive all the way to Buffalo to meet people like themselves. So this is serving a real important niche in this community. And it's fulfilling."
Niagara Pride is accepting donations of new school supplies, masks, hand sanitizer, and backpacks, so they can be delivered directly to LGBTQ students in need, through local Gay Straight Alliance Clubs (GSA) this fall. Last year they collected 76 backpacks; this year their goal is 150 filled backpacks.
Providing Hope
Ronald Piaseczny, the President of Niagara Pride hopes these backpacks will remind students that this time in their life is temporary and that there is a future and community ahead of them.
"Our hope is that by showing that there are organizations, there are people out there who do support youth, who do band together and work for the greater good of the LGBTQ community, not just LGBTQ folks themselves, but allies as well. That in the grand scheme of things, in the larger picture, there are organizations and people out there that they can join once they become adults, and that it does get better."
There are organizations and people out there that they can join once they become adults, and that it does get better.Ronald Piaseczny on his hope for what students will take away from receiving the backpacks
There are still a few more opportunities to donate through August in both Erie and Niagara counties. Here is a list of remaining events provided by Niagara Pride:
"Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 10AM to 1PM at The Boulevard Consumer Square (1561-1703 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst, NY). Please look for the blue tent with the rainbow Pride flag and our banner at the donation drop off table.
Sunday, August 15, 2021 from 10AM to 1PM at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (140 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY). Please look for the blue tent with the rainbow Pride flag and our banner at the donation drop off table.
Friday, August 20, 2021 from 10AM to 1PM on Canal Street in Lockport, NY next to Lake Effect Ice Cream. Please look for the rainbow Pride flag and our banner at the donation drop off table.
- Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 11AM to 1PM at Spot Coffee (54 Webster St, North Tonawanda, NY) during the Niagara Pride Coffee Klatch Meet Up."
You can also learn more about Niagara Pride by visiting them on the web at NiagaraPride.org.