Pride Month Q&A with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ culture and dedicate support to the LGBTQ community. Since 2020, Feeding San Diego has had a partnership with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. Its mission is to serve, empower, and advocate for North County’s diverse LGBTQ community.
The partnership formed out of the need created by the pandemic. Today, it continues to provide nutritious rescued food to the North County community. The Center’s food assistance program is called Foodies & Goodies. Every Friday, staff and volunteers provide food on a first-come, first-serve basis to anyone who needs it. Feeding San Diego connected North County LGBTQ Center with local stores, including Jimbo’s Naturally, Trader Joe’s, and Ralphs, so staff and volunteers can now rescue the food for the program. Since founding Foodies & Goodies, the Center has rescued over 15,257 pounds of food and served 2,760 families.
We spoke to the Center’s Director of Operations, Allan Acevedo, about the inception of the Foodies & Goodies program during the pandemic, the reasons why the LGBTQ community needs continued support all year long, and their upcoming in-person Pride by the Beach celebration.
Allan Acevedo, Director of Operations at North County LGBTQ Resource Center
Q: Why did the North County LGBTQ Resource Center start the Foodies & Goodies program? What did the need look like in your community?
A: The North County LGBTQ Resource Center started Foodies & Goodies to meet the community and mutual aid needs of the evolving pandemic. News stories and our own social media feeds were filled with stories of food shortages and concerns from seniors and those with preexisting conditions about exposing themselves to risk for a dwindling supply of goods.
At the same time, businesses were still throwing away food. For many reasons, grocers and food businesses clear shelves to make room for more products even if the food is still perfectly edible. We stepped in to connect that food and other goodies to the community.
The current impact of Foodies & Goodies
At first, this looked like door-to-door no-contact deliveries. Over time, we’ve been able to bring the program and people back to our center. Every Friday, we distribute food and other goodies to our community, such as treats and even flowers. We also connect with other community-based organizations to ensure we limit food waste.
We also keep a store of pantry staples that don’t need cooking for anyone who comes in during the week. Often people seeking housing navigation, case management, or other referral services may also benefit from low barrier access to free food.
Now, we also see that this program serves as a bridge to our other services, from free or low-cost mental health services, including therapy, peer support groups, or even volunteer and leadership development opportunities.
Rescued food at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center
Q: Data shows us that the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of food insecurity. Why are LGBTQ people more likely to face hunger?
A: Our communities have often faced discrimination in employment and housing. It’s no wonder the data would also reflect higher rates of food insecurity. This is all connected.
Food insecurity is one component of the economic insecurity and inequality that the LGBTQ community faces.
The LGBTQ community is often overrepresented in data reflecting adverse experiences, trauma, and negative health outcomes, including higher instances of attempted suicide, higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, higher rates of homelessness and housing insecurity, and lower high school graduation rates.
Food insecurity is one component of the economic insecurity and inequality that the LGBTQ community faces. Sadly, our community has lived through generations of progress while making very little headway in education, health, and employment inequality. These inequalities were further highlighted by the different degrees to which people have faced exposure, vulnerabilities, and the capacity to respond to the pandemic.
Q: What deterrents prohibit people from seeking out community resources like Foodies & Goodies?
A: Social stigma is a deterrent to accessing community resources. There are outdated ideas about the value of human life and what’s needed to not only support life but thrive.
Lack of community education is also a deterrent. People might think they know what rescued food is. Until you see that everyone is helping reduce what we throw in the landfill, some people might be driven by misconceptions.
Q: How does your team work to make the Friday food distributions welcoming and inclusive to everyone who comes through?
Our low-barrier program allows folks to come in without providing income or residency information. We greet households one at a time into our space to maintain social distancing and privacy. We have volunteers and staff on hand to support individuals who need help sorting and selecting items. They will even help carry things to the car. All of this makes the food distributions welcoming and inclusive to all.
Volunteers at the LGBTQ Resource Center distribute rescued food
Q: How do people react when they find out that all the food is rescued and that they are helping the environment by picking up the food?
Often, people are more encouraged to take rescued food when we frame it as a sustainability initiative rather than charity. This helps reframe any social stigma and centers community as the reason to accept and use rescued food.
Q: June is Pride Month. How is the North County LGBTQ Center celebrating? How can people get involved?
A: For Pride Month, we’re excited to welcome the community back to in-person celebrations with our 15th annual Pride by the Beach event on Saturday, June 11, from 12 to 6 PM in the heart of downtown Oceanside, just blocks from the beach.
We have two entertainment stages, over 100 vendors, delicious food including vegan options, health and wellness resources (e.g., free dental checkups, COVID and Flu vaccines, STI testing), drag shows, a salsa band, and much more.
Check out our Official 2022 Pride by the Beach Guide online here.
