40 Ways in 40 Days: Remembering the Survivors of Katrina (Day 11)

Day 11, Way 11

Because I just went to see Brokeback Mountain, today I went looking for a GBLT-type way. I found one:

The NO/AIDS Task Force

NO/AIDS is based in New Orleans and it is what it's spelled like: an organization dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV and supporting individuals who already have it. Like many AIDS organizations it originally emerged in response to needs within the GBLT community, but has now expanded to include the other populations at risk for HIV infection. Here's their institutional history, from their site:

NO/AIDS Task Force is the oldest HIV/AIDS service organization in the Gulf South and was founded in 1983 in response to the early devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in the New Orleans area. The program expanded by offering an AIDS Information Center and Hotline in 1985. In the following years, the agency expanded its services, responding to the various communities impacted by the epidemic as it continued to affect diverse populations. Case management and mental health services were added in 1990. A meal delivery program was added in 1992 and a community mobilization project with offices in the French Quarter/Marigny was added in 2000. Services were expanded to the Houma/Thibodeaux area in 2001.

Today, the agency offers a continuum of services, including prevention education (street and community outreach, venue-based outreach, condom distribution and community mobilization targeting men who have sex with men), HIV antibody testing and counseling, the statewide HIV/AIDS hotline, case management, case finding, housing coordination, early intervention/primary medical care, mental health, support groups, home delivered meals, food bank, peer support services, housing case management, and medication disbursement.

You can go here to see a breakdown of what the organization did in 2004. In addition to outreach, testing, prevention, medical care, and so on, NO/AIDS runs a food program for people who are not able to cook for themselves.

Why are there numbers for 2004 but not for 2005? Well, because NO/AIDS was operating out of a building which took a major hit in 2005. And since then, well, in their words:

"The facility located on Columbus St. was badly damaged and remains unusable. Program is currently operating from a staff member's home. Meals, provided by God's Love We Deliver and Altria, are being delivered twice a week."

Operating out of a staff member's home. Dang.

Anyway, NO/AIDS obviously needs a new place. So if you want to help them rebuild and keep on doing the good work, they got a whole list of ways to give.

It's important to get places like this back up and running. HIV doesn't care what kinds of hurricanes have come through town, and it must be driving the NO/AIDS staff insane trying to track down clients who have been dispersed over a wide area and who, cut off from their regular source of treatment and support, are going to be in worse and worse trouble the longer they go without it. NO/AIDS can use the help, and so can the people they're still trying to serve.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

Thanks!

:kick:

badly.

:hi:

I miss your writings...Your writings were the first I read, on this site...I miss your rantings, and musings...:)

Thank you for the post.

So much going on; I needed the nudge,

head to think about. God bless everyone from professionals to students who're working to bring back our gulf coast. You guys have no idea how much good you're doing. Lives will be changed and attitudes will follow.

Thank you, thank you so much.

and their name will be printed on the honor roll. It would make a great gift for someone, I know I'd appreciate it. I chose to remember a dear friend who is gone too soon. RC, I :loveya:

Speaking of gifts, here's what the remarkable Ms. Elizabeth Taylor did for NO/AIDS on her own birthday:

"NO/AIDS Task Force would like thank Elizabeth Taylor and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation for her birthday present. Ms. Taylor turns 74 on Monday February 27. She is celebrating this year by giving NO/AIDS Task Force a mobile medical unit. Manufactured in Ohio, the unit is almost 40 feet long and has two exam rooms, and x-ray facilities. It is currently in NO/AIDS possession, with an official release date in March. NO/AIDS plans to staff the vehicle with medical professionals to provide care to those affected by HIV/AIDS in the greater New Orleans area. This is a much needed and appreciated gift, as the medical resources of New Orleans remain strained after Hurricane Katrina."

:kick:

Is that where you go to pick up a toaster after you convert? ;-)

www.katrinaunderground.com

And mogster has so so very wonderfully put it together for us.

:)

Bookmarked it, and thanks!

:)

those bastards