Spring is FINALLY here! As with every spring, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) holds their annual AIDS Walk NY.
AIDS Walk is GMHC’s biggest fundraiser and ensures that we are able to continue our much needed support to over 15,000 clients! Last year we came just shy of our $7,000,000 goal.
I WANT to make sure we reach this goal and make AWNY08 the most successful AIDS Walk ever. That being said, I have set myself an ambitious goal to personally raise $1,000.
Please help me in this venture by visiting my website and giving what you can.
Whether you give $5 or $500 these unrestricted funds are what allows GMHC to:
- Serve over 100,000 meals a year
- Secure housing for over 250 clients a year
- Reach out to the 1 in 4 HIV+ New Yorkers who don’t know their status
- Field over 100,000 calls and e-mails to our Hotline
- Expand our outreach to the highest risk individuals and under served communities through programs like:
- Mobile testing facilities
- Youth campaigning
- Eldersexual, which recognizes the HIV+ community with people over 50
To learn more about GMHC you can visit our website at www.gmhc.org or just give me a call at work at 212-367-1281. Help make a difference for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Now I want to express my own personal reasoning behind why I joined the staff of GMHC. This July will mark my 1 year anniversary working here and I’m not sure I have ever felt more rewarded or accomplished with my job.
Each day I get to understand and relate to those that this organization helps. I pass clients in the hall, ride with them in the elevators and engage in conversation every day. More and more I am coming to realize the great work that GMHC does and how they create an open, friendly and positive environment for individuals who deal with so much.
This disease began with a group of people that struggled with stigma and prejudice spawned from ignorance and hate, much of which still remains today. This same group fortunately rarely had to deal with issues like housing, citizenship and/or financial difficulty; while this disease changes so do those who are most affected by it. Over the past decade we have seen HIV/AIDS grow in communities that have the least. These individuals tend to have lives where HIV/AIDS does not take the forefront and because of this their disease is heightened.
Last year, the Ryan White Care Act, which funds most every AIDS service organization in America, saw drastic cuts and re-allocations. New York State alone lost over 21 MILLION DOLLARS and GMHC lost 2 MILLION of that. In addition ALL FUNDING for non-medical services was cut completely. This means that every program like GMHC’s workforce development, legal department, and financial assistance to those with HIV/AIDS were in danger of being lost. It was only through the efforts of unrestricted funds, like those received from the AIDS Walk that we were able to keep the services that our clients need.
I am lucky enough to be able to see every day how to GMHC makes a difference, but I am hoping my own passion will inspire you to understand the effect anyone can have. Please follow the link below and help me continue the fight to help those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
http://aidswalknewyork2008.kintera.org/sherry719<
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Monday Musings…
I thought I would share some things that have been passing thru my mind on this Monday…but instead of feeling the ‘Monday Blues’ I am more wondering what happened to people over the years. HuH? Well, the short version is that I had a conversation with someone I know {male} earlier today and I admitted that we have a difference in opinion. Instead of leaving the conversation at that, with us both knowing we see things very differently ~ he has continued to attempt to change my mind in my beliefs. I have to say attempt because there is no way he would ever be able to sway what is in my heart.
I mentioned it in BigBadBob’s blog…this particular male truly feels it is perfectly fine to be married with children – and have many extracurricular sexual partners. I was a bit surprised by this because he has kept his marriage to his wife a secret – even worse his entire relationship with her. He told me that he is married for 3 going on 4 years, and has been with the woman for 12 years. I was shocked because though we are not very ‘close’ I have asked him before if he had anyone special in his life ~ and his answer has always been ‘no.’ I am not outraged by our conversation as I probably would have been a few years ago ~ but I am a little disturbed by him wanting me to change the way I feel about the situation. I may not agree with what he is doing ~ but I also have the frame of mind to ‘Do You!’
So this of course got me to my Monday Musings…is there anything that is cherished anymore? Is anything sacred anymore? What do you cherish or hold sacred?
OK...so I am not one for making New Year's 'Resolutions' ~ I think those are always made and then for some reason always broken. I had a revolutionary thought a few years back that I would now make New Year's Revelations. Something inside me just clicked...or maybe snapped when I saw the end of the year coming to a close and saw all the wonderful resolutions I had planned had never been crossed off my list.
My new thinking is this...enjoy each day as it might be your last. Praying of course that you will have many, many more ahead of you. But just don't let the stress of every day life drag you and weigh you down. I know this is VERY VERY hard. I have been thru the worst of times...and with everything hitting you all at once. Remember to stop and smell the roses...I used to think that was a silly saying ~ but I have come to smile every day when I do the very thing...even if it is in my mind. I always try to take a moment for myself to pull away from the work stress, commuting stress, family...friends stress and remember that life is truly what you make it. We are all blessed for being here. That is something we forget I think as we scurry around from here to there checking our watches, cell phones, etc to make sure we are on time.
My Revelation for 2008....is to remember every thing that made me laugh, cry, wish to pull my hair out...every emotion ~ and to make peace with all the things that may have hurt me or angered me...and cherish all the good things that made me smile or laugh...or even cry happy tears. I am also going to remember to leave things in God's hands and work on my patience when things are not happening in my time. What a revelation!
Lastly...make sure you do all these things before the New Year comes ~ make up with anyone you have argued with, make sure you have at least one dollar in your pocket, and make sure you have the staples of food in your pantry...whatever yours may be ~ bread, milk, eggs, etc. This is just a little something I have learned that when you start out your new year with a clean slate, money in your pocket and food for your tummy ~ you will have those provisions during that year to come. Maybe a silly old wives' tale ~ but...I think for once this year I will try it.
So my dear bloggers...that being said ~ how will you spend your New Year's? Will you Resolve or Revel?
Peace, Love & Happiness!!
