19th Pride Picnic Wrap-Up and Thanks!

by Mike Mahler

The 19th Annual Erie Gay News Family Pride Picnic, held Saturday, June 11 at the Rotary Pavilion was a great success! This year, Pride events are being coordinated by the Pride Planning committee, which is a coalition of groups and individuals.

About 290 people enjoyed a day of friends, food and fun. We also collected 100 pounds of food and $10 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA. Thanks so much for everyone’s generosity!

We are deeply grateful for our generous donors, who help make Pride possible. This year’s donors:

AdultMart
Allegheny College Bookstore
BeautiControl
Blue Heron Inn
Body Language
Chicory Hill Herbs
Coca-Cola/Erie
Country Fair
Craze Night Club
Crime Victim Center of Erie County
Douglas Kolcun
Drenched Fur
Earthshine Company
Eerie Horror Film Festival
Erie Book Store
Erie County Democratic Party
Erie County Department of Health
Erie Gay Pride
Erie Playhouse
Erie Sisters
Erie Spine and Wellness
Family United Counseling
Gaudenzia / SHOUT Outreach
Giant Eagle - Buffalo Road
Good Health Rejuvenation
JR’s Last Laugh
La bella
Larese Floral Design
LBT Women
Lion’s Den Adult Super Store
Pennsylvania Coalition to End Homelessness
PFLAG Erie/Crawford County
Pie in the Sky Cafe
Presque Isle Gallery Coffeehouse
The Ringbearer
Shakira Nakelle’s Mementos Gifts & More
Silk Screen Unlimited
Smith’s Hot Dogs
State Farm Insurance Agent Natalie Braddock
Tops Friendly Markets - W 38th St
Wegman’s- Peach St
Wendy’s of Erie
Zone Dance Club

The picnic takes a lot of work so we also want to thank our marvelous volunteers: Deb, Richard Guy, Johauna, Dok, Chris, Bruce, Marisha, Bob, Jazzy, Richard, Andrea, Diana, Kim, Gerry, Laura and Nuka

Info tables at the picnic included BeautiControl, Community Health Net, Drenched Fur, Equality Pennsylvania, Erie County Democratic Party, Erie Gay News, LBT Women PFLAG Erie and Strong Vincent High School Gay-Straight Alliance.

We have an awesome committee! Committee members who gave so much time and effort to make the event a success JR, Gary, Jeff, Erin, Amy, Diana, Season, Chris, Mark, Sue, Garry, Mary Lou, Alex, Danny, Kerry, Shakira and John Daly King,.