Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

The past few months have been a whirlwind as we’ve deftly moved from whistle kits to an urgent need to relocate the pantry, then came a rescue by a generous neighbor, and tried very hard to get Gertie running.

In the midst of this frantic pace, our supply of pet food ran low while demand increased.

We put out yet another request for help. On top of pet food, we need to print another run of Protect Trans Kids stickers, and contribute $1000 towards whistle kit supplies.

It has been – it is – a lot. A lot to manage, a lot to ask, even a lot or two for our future home in Central Northside. *I can still use wordplay even under duress*

Then we have to finance our relocation. Using short term storage feels wasteful given the cost of the shipping container, but its a very big overwhelming decision.

Bouncing between paralysis and juggling 47 balls has been … ruff?

We will always come to you for help because these are community efforts. We also try to always come when you need support. When your cat slips out. When your neighbor needs pet food. When you want to distribute whistle kits. When you are stickering for whatever reason.

Sometimes I think of how these seemingly disparate things – pet food, whistle kits, protect trans kids – fit together in spite of everything saying they shouldn’t.

This weekend, I was working with an Eastern PA family to raise awareness that their Black trans daughter was missing. She’s safely home. But at the same time, I’m reading updates on ICE and hearing whistles again. And a lively discussion on pet food options unfolded on NextDoor, illustrating that the need is growing.

The is growing on all of these issues, these experiences of our neighbors. Maybe a whistle kit with a Protect Trans Kids sticker and information on the pet food pantry isn’t useful across the board. But maybe sometimes it is, a symbolic gesture that lands with some people who are vulnerable?

We have enough food for our individually registered caretakers and our street outreach partner. But we also work with now nine mutual-aid food distros serving 130 pet owners. That’s over 350 people total. How would we pick whom to leave out of this month’s distribution?

Caretakers receive 5-10 pound bags. The street outreach receive very large bags they repack for 50 people each month.

The distros get 3.5 pound bags for each caretaker – an easy amount to carry or transport with other items.

We are short 60 of the small 3.5 bags of dry cat and dog food. They cost us about $5.00 so we need $300.

$300 for pet food or 60 small bags

$1000 for whistle kit supplies

$1500 to print #ProtectTransKids stickers.

If you want to vet our projects, please visit www.pghlgbtq.com

We hope the palatabbylity of our requests harness your interest with our neighbors’ needs.

Financial donations

GoFundMe

Venmo @PittsburghLGBTQ

Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ

CashApp $PittsburghLGBTQ

Zelle folx@pghlgbtq.org

We have two wishlists

Amazon bit.ly/TheRuffList

Chewy bit.ly/TheChewyList

Thank you for your support.