Clothing & Food & Pride

Kyasia Hagins and her daughter combed through the New Haven Pride Center’s community closet, pulling out a rainbow corset, chunky heels, and other items made available through just one of many services offered by the LGBTQ+ advocacy org.

That was the scene Thursday morning at the Pride Center’s 50 Orange St. office.

The Pride Center has community drop-in hours from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. 

Hagins told the Independent that she is a regular at the Pride Center’s community closet, and visits with her two young children once or twice a month. She said she’s not a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, but has family members who are.

She found out about the center through her parents and has visited monthly ever since.

Hagins said she also uses the center’s food pantry to pick up food for meals she cooks for her family of four. The food pantry on Thursday offered items such as bags of rice, boxes of pasta, and cans of beans.

Antonio Pitti-Camacho, an interim case manager at the center, said he sees people using the food pantry every day. 

“There’s so much food insecurity in the city,” he said. ​“It’s very rewarding to give people the food and care they need.” 

Other services offered during drop-in hours include a hygiene closet, a free library, and a lounging space.

The community closet also has formal clothing for interviews or events. Recently, Camacho said he has seen a lot of young people looking for suits or formal gowns for the upcoming queer prom the center is hosting on July 19 at 313 Temple St. 

Laura Boccadoro, the operations director at the center, said that the center has other events as well, including a crochet club, dance classes, and an open mic night. About 70 percent of these programs were suggested by members of the community, according to Boccadoro. 

One of Boccadoro’s favorite programs is the ID clinics, where community members can learn how to change the gender marker or name on their driver’s license if they would like.

“Volunteering, helping with day-to-day stuff like the food pantry, starting support or affinity groups,” she said. ​“We’re always looking for support, whether it be your dollars or your hours, those are both impactful.”