Common Ground by Pam Schmidt At the January 23, 2008, Women's Fellowship potluck, we were treated to a special guest: Sharon Chamberlain, the Executive Director of Common Ground - the Westside HIV Community Center. Most of the area's HIV/AIDs services are centered in Hollywood, which left the Westside without services until 1992 when Common Ground was established in Santa Monica. Since then, it has become a tremendous community resource and it remains the Westside's only service provider for people with HIV/AIDs. Sharon told us of their work with homeless youth, at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDs from unprotected sex or injection drug use. Common Ground offers these youth food, clothes, hygiene products, medical and dental services, legal services, HIV testing, prevention counseling and resources, and much more. Common Ground also offers HIV Testing, Case Management, Medical Management, Health Services (including Mental Health Services) and other services for the overall HIV/AIDs community. Perhaps most movingly, Sharon shared with us how many people express their gratitude of having somewhere to come and let their guard down in their struggle with this challenging disease. It is easy for those us without this disease, especially those of us who believe are friends and co workers are "tolerant", to overlook how difficult it is to cope with having this disease, especially in communities that remain in denial about it. In fact, as welcome as the new medications are for those with HIV/AIDs, their existence has had negative consequences. Because the disease is seen as less deadly, many people (especially young people) ignore basic preventive measures. But, taking the drug cocktails as required is no easy feat. HIV/AIDs patient's must take numerous drugs every day, often spaced out at very specific times (for example, 1 hour before eating; 2 hours after). Some drugs must be refrigerated, making it difficult to take them when you are on the go (and especially if you live on the street). Failure to adhere to the required drug schedule may mean that the virus will become resistant to a drug protocol, requiring a change to another protocol altogether. This brings a special urgency to Common Ground's outreach and prevention work. How then can we support Common Ground? Sharon shared with us the coming funding crisis in HIV/AIDs. A particular federal funding program, called the Ryan White act is due to "sunset" soon. So, as with all non profits, money will help. Common Ground can also use volunteers and have listed many volunteer opportunities on the website (www.commongroundwestide.org). In addition, Sharon told us that some items are particularly needed: new socks, new or gently used sweatshirts, and new or gently used backpacks. So, during this season of Lent, I encourage to bring these items to church for donation to Common Ground. Copyright © 2008 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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