June 22, 2023
A newly formed recovery organization for members of the LGBTQ network is looking for a new home after being informed, just hours before its first assembly on Wednesday, that the organization’s home, the basement of the Webster County Health Department, will no longer space them out.
Rainbow to Recovery, a networking organization aimed at supporting LGBTQ network members on their addiction recovery journeys, was introduced earlier this week after weeks of organizing through its founders, Sarah SmallCarter, Cordin Herrick, Riley Walstrom and Marissa Nichols. Initially, the organization coordinated with Webster County Health Decomponent as a component of a grant the Decomponent won to fund the network’s outreach and resources, adding the LGBTQ network.
The organization scheduled its first assembly Wednesday at 7 p. m. But it wasn’t until mid-afternoon that they were informed that they may no longer meet at WCHD, according to SmallCarter.
According to a post via WCHD on Facebook, the branch has decided that the grant cannot fund the costs of employing county services or more staff during meetings. He went on to say that WCHD “cannot organize help or recovery. “equipment in county-owned services. “
According to Webster County Supervisor Mark Campbell, who also sits on the county board of health, county policy is to deny requests for outdoor equipment to use county facilities.
“Other teams and organizations are constantly contacting us through other teams and organizations that need to use county facilities,” Campbell said. “For the past several years, we have been looking to locate an area for a public defender’s office. We can’t locate the area. . . We do not have space available for people.
Despite the setback, the organization’s founding members planned to meet outdoors at the construction of WCHD at 723 First Ave. S. to show your for the organization and tell others of the update if they had not seen the message within a few hours before the scheduled meeting date.
“We’re committed to making that happen,” SmallCarter said. There is a need for spaces for the queer network that are not alcohol-based. It’s about gathering the desires of our network. “
About 15 other people showed up, some looking for the announced recovery and others just there to show off their matrix.
“Thank you to everyone who showed up,” Walstrom said.
With turnout and good weather Wednesday night, the organization went ahead with their assembly, only instead of the assembly in the basement of the WCHD, they sat in combination on the sidewalk.
Now, the organization is exploring features for a new site for the organization’s biweekly meetings.
“I’d like to see that expand further,” Herrick said.
Today’s newest and more in your inbox
LAKE CITY – Stewart Memorial Community Hospital CEO Cindy Carstens has to. . .
Registration is open at St. Catholic School. Edmond for the year 2023-2024 for previous classes, Array. .
Today’s newest and more in your inbox