The face of AIDS, HIV, and HEP C infection may change, but the need does not! Over 20 million people worldwide have died since the epidemic of AIDS began 25 years ago. Over 42 million people worldwide are currently infected with the HIV virus. Without treatment and prevention, it is usually fatal.
We need your help! The fight against AIDS, HIV, and HEP C is losing in our county. With the downturn in our economy, our local, state, and federal funding has drastically decreased by $88,750 the last four year, which represents 35% of our revenue. The services we offer have to be reconsidered.
Meet a few of our Douglas County faces who are at jeopardy if we are unable to continue our programs:
Tracy
"My name is Tracy and I am 34 years old. I came to Douglas County with my family in September of 2003, and was caught up in the drug world. In 2005, I lost everything, my home, husband, and my children.
Since then I have been working very hard to get back on my feet. In October 2007, I was placed at the Harm Reduction Center through UCC’s workforce to gain job skills. In April of 2008, I was hired as the office assistant. This experience has played a big role in giving me a chance to improve my work ethic and make me more employable. Without the HARM Reduction Center, I would not have made it. "
Kevin
I started using in Junior high school and graduated to Meth about 20 years ago. It was a roller coaster ride of difficulties. I got married and had two beautiful children. Eventually, I became estranged from my family.
In 2000, I was getting high with some friends in a local park and a man showed up offering clean syringes. I came to know him simply because I wanted the free needles and in time, I started going to the Harm Reduction Center to exchange my dirty rigs for clean ones.
In 2003, my girl friend and I decided to kick Meth. In order to succeed, we had to give up all our old acquaintances. It was a lonely time. Soon we discovered the Harm Reduction Center had more to offer than just clean needles. I started volunteering my time, helping with repairs and participating in meetings.
Becoming a productive member of society was no easy task. I ran into a number of obstacles along the way. Today, I still volunteer at the Center, I have my own business, my children are a part of my life again, and I have reconnected with my Tribe. While I take the credit for turning my life around, the outreach workers at the Harm Reduction Center helped me through some of the roughest times one can ever imagine."
Before there was the Harm Reduction Center, there was the HIV Resource Center, before that, there was Ruby House, and before that, there was nothing to address some of the most prominent medical concerns of our time, AIDS and Hepatitis C. Perhaps it seems there are many organizations that need your support and you are right, but how many of those organizations may cost you your life or worse yet cost the life of someone you love if they fail. Drug use is at an all time high and that may not seem to affect you, but you probably know someone who is affected, someone who has HEP C or HIV. You may not know that you already know them because they can be anyone in our community. These diseases do not discriminate!
Edie Cronk, a local community member, states "Before Ruby House people with HIV died alone and painfully; I knew some of them. Now the Harm Reduction Center is fighting this new disaster of Hepatitis C, which people can get through unsafe sex, and the use of dirty needles. (Since 2005, Douglas County has 680 known cases of HEP C with 120 of those cases developing into full-blown Liver disease) I know some of them and they are alive because Harm Reduction Center has stayed on top of education and clean needle exchanges."
Any size gift is welcome and will be put to good use; remember it is tax deductible. Look under "GIVING" on the sidebar to the left for ways to contribute. Please help the Harm Reduction Center continue to do good by keeping you and your loved ones alive so you are not the next face of HIV or HEP C.
Best Regards,
Stacey McLaughlin, Executive Director
