To all ruralpunks out there,
It's frustrating to not have a way to get involved with your local community. We don't typically have things like public libraries, community centers, farmer's markets, etc.
Something that's worked for me is getting involved with my local church. There is a church in every town here in the South, that is the one thing you can rely on aside from a post office. I'm not a Christian and never will be, but in my community the church is the center of getting involved and holds all sorts of events like soup kitchens, community yard sales, etc.
I go to a United Methodist Church, which is lgbtq affirming. I've heard episcopalians are too. I never feel pressured to do communion or convert. I go there to sing and help out people in my community, and people are respectful of that.
Use your discretion in finding a church to go to. Not all will have the same kind of environment mine does, but places like this exist out there and are helpful resources for those of us who do not have the same options as city folk.
