Putnam Pride Initiative sets up for non-food pantry

Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Courtesy photo Putnam Pride Initiative members helping set up for the non-food pantry at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Advent House are (from left) Dana Dudle, Denise Thede, Layne Wiegand, Michael Thede, J.D. Grove, Andrew Thede and Catherine Wiegand.

Members of the Putnam Pride Initiative (PPI) recently came together to help set up for the non-food pantry at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Advent House.

It marks the first time as a group that PPI has come together to work in the community.

“Putnam Pride Initiative members want to be known in the community for the uplifting, positive things that we are doing, “ states Denise Thede, interim board member of PPI.

As a newly formed group since February 2017, Putnam Pride Initiative has steadily grown into a group trying to create a positive experience for all in Putnam County.

It recently adopted a mission statement: Putnam Pride Initiative educates and builds bridges of awareness and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and others (LGBTQ+) community and their allies in Putnam County.

Putnam Pride Initiative has experienced many firsts over the summer. In June several members attended the Spencer Pride festival in early June. Then on Saturday, June 24 Putnam Pride Initiative had its first public outing at a picnic in Robe-Ann Park. Festivities included food, cornhole games, the painting of rocks, fellowship with old and new friends, and a piñata filled with candy for the kids.

Guests included members of Spencer Pride who gave an honorary LGBT flag and wished PPI much future success as well as leaders of the city of Greencastle. Putnam Pride Initiative also participated a lot during the Putnam County Fair Week. Members walked in the Putnam County 4-H Fair Parade carrying a new logo on a sign as well as rainbow flags and threw candy to the crowds. Finally, they also had a booth at the Putnam County 4-H Fairgrounds. Many of the people who stopped by were very complimentary to the formation of this group.

Putnam Pride Initiative has monthly meetings for those interested in building bridges of acceptance and awareness of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies each month at Starbucks. It also has T-shirts with the new logo available for purchase at the Conspire: Contemporary Craft store in Greencastle.

“Since our first picnic was so well-received, we hope to have another picnic in September,” said J.D. Grove, interim board member of PPI.

For more information, contact PPI at contact@putnamprideinitiative.org or you can find them on Facebook as the public group, Putnam Pride Initiative.

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