programs + services
In order to keep staff, youth, and YPI visitors as safe and protected as possible from COVID-19 and it’s variants, we are updating our mask policy in the space. Starting December 2021, everyone entering YPI’s drop-in space will be required to wear a N-95 mask. We will have them available if you do not have one. We request those with cloth or paper masks to switch to one of our N-95’s upon arrival. Thank you for your corporation!
BASIC NEEDS PANTRY
Youth Pride, Inc. hosts a small community pantry that serves over 700 youth each year. The pantry is open during the week for youth in need of food, clothes, toiletries, and/or school supplies. Youth can take these items for free on a weekly basis. Youth can always make an appointment to shop our Basic Needs Pantry for food, clothes, toiletries, and/or school supplies. We also have premade bags ready for pick up with customizable options.
Donations
Keeping our pantry stocked is a big job, so we are always looking for Pantry Sponsors! If your group or organization is interested in sponsoring our Basic Needs Pantry by hosting a food drive(s), please email Info@youthprideri.org to begin coordinating your event. A YPI staff member can pick up the donation after the food drive, and continuous sponsors will be mentioned wherever our pantry is mentioned.
Looking for ideas? Take a look at our Basic Needs Pantry Wishlist for the items we need the most, it also doubles as a Drive poster! We have an Amazon Wishlist to remove the guesswork and save you a car drive, too. Thank you for your support!
Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering at Youth Pride, Inc. submit one of our Volunteer Applications below.
After you complete the form, you will be added to our system and will be contacted as volunteer opportunities arise! We currently do not have open volunteer hours, we strictly reach out to volunteers as need arises.
We are always looking for volunteers to assist with our annual presence at the Rhode Island Pride held in June. Past small scale volunteer opportunities have included Basic Needs Pantry organization, YPI Library cataloging/book shelving, and full basement clean out.
All volunteers 18 and older must be able to pass a BCI check.
Become A Sustaining Donor
Sustaining Donors are the backbone of Youth Pride, Inc. Thank you for considering us.
Some examples of where your donations go:
$25 – Covers the cost of filling one Basic Needs Pantry bag (food, toiletries, school supplies)
$50 – Covers the cost of one Wednesday Night Dinner or one Queer Gourmet Program
$100 – Covers the cost of three new chest binders for our pantry
Visit the pantry
We are open for resource drop-in every Wednesday from 2:30-5 pm. You can access the Basic Needs Pantry, Clothes Closet, and speak with a counselor or case manager to help meet your needs. If you are 23 or under and need help outside of those hours, please use our request form below and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
LENDING LIBRARY
YPI is home to over 1,000 books that make up our library. Youth are welcome to browse or borrow from our collection while they are in the space. Our collection is composed of mostly Young Adult literature both LGBTQ and Non-LGBTQ specific. Readers will also enjoy looking through our other genres; Anthropologies, Art, Autobiographies, Biographies, Classic Literature, Culture, Gender Studies, Graphic Novels, Family Resources, Fiction, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ History, Nonfiction, and Sexual Education.
Our library is situated in the back of our building, perfect for quiet, leisurely activities. Youth are often found working on homework, studying, reading a book, or listening to their headphones while in the library.
If you have books you would like to donate, please email Library@youthprideri.org
COUNSELING
YPI’s two counselors are available for one-on-one counseling throughout the week. This provides a chance to talk about anything and everything you may want someone to listen to or may need help coping with. All information in these counseling sessions is confidential unless a youth discloses intent to harm themselves or someone else, or they disclose they are being harmed or abused. One-on-one counseling is free to our youth.
To set up a time for counseling, email Andy@youthprideri.org