I was logging out of the AIDS Walk Austin site, after thanking the donors from Friday’s amazing donations, when I saw this statement from AIDS Services of Austin:
This year’s sequestration means ASA is losing $78,000. And we need YOU to help us meet our goals in order to maintain the high standard of care we offer in Central Texas.
Wow. Lost in all the talk about the shutdown & the potential default has been the disaster that is the sequester. Come below the fold for more on why you should donate to this cause.
The Walk is in less than a week — it’s on Sunday afternoon. They had a great day Friday – as of Saturday morning they were at 41% of their goal. Now, 41% may not sound great, but before Friday it was way lower, so yay Walkers. But — take a look at that paragraph I pasted above. What we’re now hoping for is the disastrous sequester budget. That $78,000 that AIDS Service of Austin lost is money that should go to literally feed people, subsidize meds, provide case management….. it just takes my breath away that agencies that do this have to sustain such cuts. It breaks my heart to think of people not getting the food they need because of some fools in Washington (all of whom eat plenty, every day)
This is a link to an article on ASA’s website, about how I’ve done this walk every year: http://www.asaustin.org/site/N…
These are the agencies you help when you donate at my AIDS Walk Austin page
The Care Communities
The mission of The Care Communities is to provide practical and compassionate support for people with serious illness, particularly AIDS and cancer. The support is provided by Care Teams, which consist of four to seven volunteers, who offer such assistance as light housekeeping, shopping, transportation, meal preparation, yard work. It also provides emotional support and companionship to those who are ill and who might otherwise remain isolated or alone. The vision of The Care Communities is a caring community where no one will face a serious illness alone.
Project Transitions
Project Transitions is dedicated to serving people with HIV and AIDS by providing hospice, housing and support in a compassionate and caring environment.
Friends of the David Powell Clinic and the David Powell Clinic
Provides outpatient primary care medical services for adults who are living with HIV and AIDS. Services include family practice, internal medicine, gynecological services, family planning, mental health counseling, social services, nutrition counseling and after-hours telephone assistance.
What kind of government do we have, that cuts grants to places like this? I’ve said that if you’d told me when I was doing the Walk that first year that we’d be doing this 26 years later, I’d be pissed. Well, I am pissed. it is an absolute outrage that we have to do this. But the only constructive response (besides electing people who won’t cut funds to agencies that help people) is to help. Please donate at: my AIDS Walk Austin page
I always put music in my diaries. This one needs Love and Peace (or Else) because, well…..
and that’s not the official video, but one somebody made with the lyrics because what this song has to say matters
Please donate at: my AIDS Walk Austin page
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