this starts at 6pm Thursday — so please donate after that time – more info on the Amplify challenge .
On March 20 & 21, there’s a major charity drive in Austin — Amplify Austin. Charities have matching opportunities, and the charities that raise more money get prizes. I am, of course raising money for the Hill Country Ride for AIDS. Below is a list of some of the ways specific amounts donated help. And you can donate at my Hill Country Ride page
But first, the bad/alarming news. There has been a 40% rise in new infections in youth in Travis County. Below is something AIDS Services of Austin executive director Paul Scott wrote about that:
In the HIV and AIDS field, the landscape changes constantly. Each year brings new medical advancements that help people live longer, healthier lives with HIV. However, as the number of people affected by HIV grows, ASA’s services become even more in demand.
Throughout the past 26 years serving Central Texans, we’ve learned to get one step ahead of the curve, always staying informed and anticipating where the highest need will be in the months or years ahead. We founded the first dental clinic in Central Texas for people living with HIV and helped volunteers pioneer the groundbreaking Octopus Club fundraising model, which raised its two millionth dollar this year.
The past few years have seen renewed hope as research into cures and vaccines has made incredible breakthroughs. But approaching HIV treatment and prevention requires not just medical insight, but social and behavioral foresight. In Texas, the rate of new HIV infections has been increasing, and over the past two years, 40% of new infections has been youth ages 15-29. With our expanding youth space at the Q Austin and new “Camp Q” messaging, ASA was ready to tackle this trend, reaching young people in new, innovative ways.
These trends demonstrate the value of our responsibility to the community and our mission. However, we cannot help our community without the help of our community. This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Hill Country Ride, a cornerstone of fellowship and support in Austin. 2014 also marks the 21st anniversary of Viva, benefiting the Capital Area AIDS Legal Project (CAALP). Like many of our programs, CAALP was created in response to an immediate need, particularly for people faced with difficult medical decisions, financial hardship, end-of-life concerns, and even discrimination.
Through ASA’s proven programs and services, we anticipate and tackle each new challenge as it comes along. We work daily to identify future issues that affect the well-being of our clients. And as always, we rely on your continued support to serve the needs of a growing population.
Respectfully yours,
Paul E. Scott, Executive Director
Please donate at my Hill Country Ride page
$35 covers one rapid HIV rest – we know that 40% of HIV+ people don’t know it yet. Through testing, we can get them into life saving care, and further reduce the spread of the virus.
or it could pay for one hot breakfast to feed 35 residents in a housing program
Another thing it could do is buy a food voucher for emergency needs – many of those living with HIV are also living in poverty, and can’t afford their medication and nutritious food. This makes sure they get the food they need.
$60 pays for a one month supply of medical prescriptions. Medications can reduce the virus so much that it keeps someone healthy and also reduces the risk of passing it along.
Or it buys one testing & counseling session. And buys someone nutritious food and for one month – A month of nutritious food allows someone living with HIV to focus on staying healthy without worrying about the basic need of having enough to eat.
$120 provides education for 440 people. Education is one of the most important tools in reducing new infections.
$250 provides 3 family counseling sessions. It can be devastating for a family when a member is diagnosed, and we know that an intact family unit promotes health and provides a built in support.
It also provides 7 hours of outreach to find people and get them into care – If you are homeless or unemployed, your HIV may not be at the top of list of your priorities. By finding people and making sure they get the care they need, lives are saved.
$500 provides a month of rent for one family in supportive housing. Assistance with food, daily chores, trips to medical appointments and social support create a foundation for continued health and a step toward independence.
$1,000 will cover the costs of 2 memberships for Association of Nurses in AIDS care, specifically for HIV updates. Or it could pay for an outpatient procedure for an uninsured client – many with HIV/AIDS do not have insurance. You can cover the expenses related to a needed procedure.
Or it can pay for four months of medication – Medications can reduce the virus so much that it keeps someone healthy and also reduces the risk of passing it along.
Or it could give 450 home cooked meals for hospice patients. When in hospice, there are often unique food needs. You can make sure that final days are spent with delicious food that doesn’t upset someone’s stomach.
It costs approximately $367,000 to treat each infected patient over a lifetime. If you donate at my Hill Country Ride page, look at all the good things the beneficiary agencies can do with that money. Please donate if you can! And today & tomorrow, your donation will go farther!
And now for the music. You know I always have music in my diaries. I’m using Beautiful Day, because Amplify Austin is a beautiful day of people donating to all kinds of charities
and I had to add another song — I figure it being my (very loud) earworm for the past 2 days is a sign – and I like the words There is no them, there’s only us. There is no them, there’s only you, there’s only me.
There’s no one else who can help, just us:
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