What is Project Rainbow?
Project Rainbow is an initiative founded by Appalachians who are passionate about keeping the LGBTQ+ community safe and surrounded with love.
It is the hope of our founders that Project Rainbow will serve as West Virginia's premier service hub for members of the LGBTQ+ who are facing abandonment from friends or family due their sexuality or gender identity, individuals who need housing resources, mental health care, and eventually health care including gender affirming care. Overall, Project Rainbow in all its forms will serve as a source of love and security for members of the LGBTQ+ community in West Virginia.
Project Rainbow will provide leadership and employment opportunities to individuals who either need to utilize/are utilizing services or those with lived experience with any of the following: navigating the housing system, facing rejection due to their gender identity/sexuality, or facing difficulties being someone who is out in Appalchia. Through empowering individuals to pursue leadership positions we not only give those individuals power, but we will ensure that Project Rainbow remains an informed, lived experience driven, and relevant organization.
Project Rainbow will offer advocacy and representation in places where it is most needed in an effort to change the societal climate in the best interest of those we hope to serve.
Safe Access to Shelter is Our Top Priority
Project Rainbow's first major undertaking will be a shelter/safe haven to serve specifically members of the LGBTQ+ community who are facing being unsheltered in West Virginia. Due to the harmful legislative measures being introduced in our House and Senate in addition to the ever-growing ignorance and bigotry empowered by these legislators, we believe that the first priority is to create a safe place for members of the LGBTQ+ community to stay while they navigate various resources.
The Rainbow House will serve the unhoused LGBTQ+ community as a safe shelter for those who need it while they need it. Project Rainbow is currently seeking funding to make The Rainbow House a reality, we hope to open the doors of a facility in Morgantown before the end of this year. The Rainbow House will resemble a home, rather than an institution, and provide the inhabitants with connection to the services needed to secure stable housing, health care, mental health care, and other services as needed.
The Impact of Your Donation
Project Rainbow is accepting and encouraging donations to put toward the opening and implementation of The Rainbow House.
Your donation will directly go toward:
- Costs associated with renting or purchasing a home to be utilized as a shelter and/or office space, as well as utilities,
- Costs associated with paying individuals to oversee daily operations of shelter or provide stipends for volunteers who will work to ensure the safety of residents at The Rainbow House.
- Bedding, furnishings, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, towels, and other important items residents will use during their stay at The Rainbow House.
We will be working on obtaining grant funding to support the on-going mission of Project Rainbow and The Rainbow House, but your donations will sustain our mission and work until other funding is secured.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you aren't able to donate at this time but would still like to help, please consider the following:
- Share this fundraiser in as many platforms as possible, help us get the word out!
- Confront bigotry and ignorance head on as you can. Help us make Appalachia a safe place for ALL of us.
