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Center Stories and A Year-End Message
December 28, 2020

As 2020 comes to an end, I am reminded of so many stories over this past year of the real difference that The Center has made in people’s lives. Each of us has a story of when The Center has made us feel welcomed, valued, and supported perhaps during one of the most crucial times of our lives. Yours may be when you needed some support to come out to friends, families, co-workers, or even to yourself. Or maybe when you needed a safe place to sleep, or food to eat… staving off the loneliness of aging…embarking on a journey of transition…finding out if you were living with HIV…looking for a loving and supportive community within which to live and thrive…or when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you needed help knowing where and how to vote or needed critical rental relief, help, and food resources.
 
And while the doors to our main facility remain closed, The Center remains open, and serving more in our community than ever before. Open to our community, open to you so we may continue to create empowering stories. Since March, The Center has responded quickly and creatively to this unprecedented public health crisis and the uncertainty of the future. Our Emergency Services — food resources, housing resources and rental relief, behavioral health services, HIV testing, healthcare enrollment, virtual support and discussion groups, and more — have truly made a life-changing difference for our community.

As we have been here for our community, we hope you can be here for us so that we may continue to serve. As this difficult year ends and the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, the need for The Center’s services is more critical than ever. If you are able, please support The Center with a year-end contribution, and know that your support makes a powerful impact for LGBTQ San Diegans. Thank you and please stay safe, wear a mask, stay home, practice social distancing, and do all you can to keep yourself and others safe. Today, we can do the work to stop the spread, as we work toward the day that we can all gather together again.
-Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
 
I want to support the LGBTQ community!
GET COVERED 2021
The Center knows that healthcare is very important for all, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to share that the deadline was extended for Covered California! The enrollment deadline for Covered California has been extended to December 30th for January 1st health coverage, due to surges in COVID-19 cases throughout the state. To enroll in Covered California, please visit getcovered2021.org or contact The Center from 9am-4pm at (619) 800-4252 or 4pm-9pm at (619) 800-4216.
HELP STOP THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
You have the power to help your friends, family and community stop the spread of COVID-19 by adding your phone to California’s exposure notification system to get COVID-19 exposure alerts and to protect those around you.

Visit CA Notify to get started and once you activate CA Notify, it does all the work. All you do is keep your Bluetooth on and you will only receive alerts if you were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Your privacy is protected as your identity is not known and your location is not tracked. Learn more and get started here.
COVID-19 TESTING IN OUR REGION
With the cases of COVID-19 rising in San Diego, The Center would like to remind you of the resources available if you, or someone you know, is in need of a COVID-19 test. You can find a full list of testing sites here or you can dial 2-1-1. Most testing locations do not require an appointment and the test only takes 5-10 minutes, with results available within 2-4 days. Please stay at home as much as possible, wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and do all you can to keep yourself and others safe so we all get through this together. 
FOOD RESOURCES FOR DECEMBER
Click to sign up for your meal from Gossip Grill
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
CREATE COMMUNITY ON ZOOM
With the Stay-At-Home order continuing, The Center knows how important it is to stay connected. Join us and your community on Zoom for discussion and support groups, special events, and more - all tailored for you and your needs. Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at (619) 800-4252 from 9am - 4pm or (619)800-4216 from 4pm - 9pm to find the right one for you.
SHARE THE CENTER'S E-NEWS!
We make it easy to share the word- just click this link and forward this E-News to a friend!  If your friends would like to sign up to stay informed, they can sign up here: https://thecentersd.org/about/weekly-e-news/
HELP IS AVAILABLE - YOU ARE NOT ALONE
If you are in crisis or considering suicide, you are not alone.
There are resources and help available for you:
  • Trans Lifeline: 1.877.565.8860 - For trans or nonbinary folx in the US
  • Trevor Project Lifeline: 1.866.488.7386 - For LGBT youth (18-24)
  • National Suicide Hotline: 1.800.273.8255 - For all ages & identities
  • San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1.888.724.7240 - Free suicide prevention/intervention hotline in San Diego County
Copyright © 2020 San Diego LGBT Community Center, All rights reserved.


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