CARBONDALE – The Rainbow Café LGBTQ Center in Carbondale is hoping to raise money and set up continuing contributions.
Rainbow Café Board Chair OJ Duncan said in a YouTube video that the center has expanded quickly in the past year, with two full-time employee, four part-time employees and an expanded physical space. They have also gone from a single weekly program for youth to seven programs for the entire community and services including HIV testing, harm reduction, vaccine education and wellness with plans to offer therapy.
“While we have more money than ever, we’re also spending more than ever,” Duncan said. “The nature of grants and invoices means we need a buffer to ensure we don’t have to interrupt programing or services.”
The center is aiming to raise $25,000 by the end of May and $50,000 by the end of June. Duncan said that amount would ensure two months of operating expenses for any delay in grant funding reaching the center’s accounts.
The Rainbow Café would also like to have $1,500 in recurring donations by the end of June to keep the services and programming it offers free for the community.
As neighboring states have passed anti-LGBTQ laws, Carbondale is often one of the most accessible cities for LGBTQ-supportive services, especially for people in Southern Indiana, Western Kentucky and Southeastern Missouri.
Checks can be sent to the Rainbow Café at 118 N Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901. Donations can also be made through the center’s website. Recurring donations can be made through this Google form.
Know a useful resource?
Share it with your community!
We aggregate links that connect to resources across Illinois. If you know of a site that should be included or want your website listed, please submit it!
