BY JIM LARKIN
Karen Prins, an Out On The Lakeshore board member, prepares an identification sticker for the community center open house. Photo courtesy of Jim Larkin
Nearly two years of work and planning came to fruition on May 30 when Out On The Lakeshore officially opened an LGBTQ Community Center at 451 Columbia Ave. in Holland. About 80 people attended the opening, including Holland Police Chief Matt Messer and two other police officers, and City Councilman Dave Hoekstra.
Opening a center where LGBTQ people can gather, find support and plan for the future has been a goal of OOTL since the it formed in 2015 by uniting Holland is Ready and Holland PRIDE. OOTL hopes to hire staff and establish regular hours for the community center, as well as develop programs to support and help LGBT people in the greater Holland area. That will depend largely on its ability to secure grants and contributions, which are the sole source of funding the nonprofit, the center and the Holland PRIDE Festival.
Those attending the Out On The Lakeshore Community Center open house enjoy one another's company. Photo courtesy of Jim Larkin
