SANFORD — The community of Sanford’s first Pride Picnic has been set for June 2 at Gowen Park. Hosted by Project CommUnity, organizers say the event is all inclusive, and everyone is invited.
“Like all Pride celebrations, this is an event in recognition and celebration of the LGBTQ community,” said Kael Parker of Project CommUnity. “The goal is to have a fun, positive event for the community and affirm LGBTQ people, families and allies around Sanford.”
Project CommUnity is serving lunch and there will be dishes donated from a number of Sanford area restaurants. There will be music and speakers, Parker said.
The Backpack Program, best known for providing backpacks filled with food for young people for weekends, will be there too, with a produce distribution and other foodstuffs.
Lori Williams is a member of Project CommUnity and is the administrative assistant for the Backpack Program.
“Part of our charge is to serve youth and their families and give without creating a stigma surrounding childhood hunger and poverty, so we do large distributions of free food and that is what we’ll be doing at the Pride Picnic,” she said.
“It is a new event and its exciting,” Williams said of the picnic. “I got involved with Project CommUnity because I like the idea of their group and what they do and I was looking for ways to connect the Backpack Program.”
Representatives from local and statewide groups like Maine Transnet, Equality Maine, the Frannie Peabody Center, Journey House, Planned Parenthood and the Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church are scheduled to attend.
Free kids activities like face painting, crafts, and story time with books with inclusive themes are planned.
Parker said the Frannie Peabody Center will be providing free, confidential, rapid result tests for HIV and Hepatitis C.
“I hope folks who attend this can spark an ongoing community-focused LBGTQ group,” Parker said.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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