Paraphrasing Paul Kawata’s article included in this enewsletter, I just have to say: “what the heck, 2022?!?!?”
We sure were hoping things were getting back to some semblance of “normal,” but it looks like we’ll have to keep waiting for that. The good news: even in the midst of a pandemic, you—our donors and volunteers—helped us provide support services to people living with HIV in 2021. Our CarePartners are so grateful for the support you’ve provided — just ask Paul, who shares with you below how a $25 gift card can make such a difference.
So we’re sending you a few quick flashes of news with important info, events, and opportunities for those of us who care so much. Stay safe out there!
Scott Blades
Executive Director
Quick Links to This Month’s Articles
- 2022: What the Heck?!?!?! Thoughts from Paul Kawata
- How Is It Possible for a $25 Gift Card to Make Such a Difference in Someone’s Life?
- Seeking Donations of Masks
- Benefit Concert for TIHAN Will Feature Classical Guitarists
- Recruiting for a Few Key Volunteer Roles
- Meet the Volunteer Behind the Mask – Byron
- Featured Item of the Month: We’d Love Your Donations of Liquid Dish Detergent
- Help Us Stay Connected to YOU!
2022: What the Heck?!?!?! Thoughts from Paul Kawata
Paul Kawata is the Executive Director of the national group NMAC (formerly know as National Minority IADS Council). He’s been a leader in the fight for decades, and wrote this insightful essay about where we are today, and what is needed. He’s concerned about about the next few weeks and the physical well-being of the HIV community as well as our long-term mental health.
We encourage you to please take a few minutes and read this important message from Paul.
“I am at a loss for how to lead during what could be some of the difficult days. Six hundred thousand new cases of COVID per day. Too many friends are sick but luckily most are OK because they are vaccinated and boosted. It feels like everyone is going to get the Omicron. I remember that feeling during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. As a young gay man watching too many of my friends get sick and die, AIDS felt inevitable. It was only a matter of time. Yet we didn’t give in, and we learned to fight back. What does COVID mean for the HIV community? How does our work fit into this new reality? How do you lead and work to end the HIV epidemic in the middle of the latest surge?
Here is what I am telling my staff: Scientists predict that the next few weeks will be some of the most difficult times we’ve experienced, with new cases regularly passing over one million per day. Personally, I think it’s impossible to get the real numbers because it is too difficult to get the necessary confirmatory tests….”
For the rest of the Paul Kawata’s essay, click on the “Read More” link:
How Is It Possible for a $25 Gift Card to Make Such a Difference in Someone’s Life?
Shoes. A basic pair of shoes, bought with a $25 Target gift card contributed to TIHAN by one of our caring donors as part of our holiday support program for people living with HIV. That generous person may or may not have realized how much excitement that $25 gift card would bring when we gave it to Paul, one of our CarePartners living with HIV. “I used that $25 gift card to go buy new shoes that I need for my job search,” Paul told us. “I want to look good for my job interviews. I haven’t been able to buy new shoes in years, and the timing was perfect!”
Paul recently moved back to Tucson to search for work. In addition to his HIV, he’s also dealing with a cancer diagnosis. He was living in a small town in Arizona and was self-employed, but COVID took a toll on his business. He doesn’t have any income right now, and is not able to qualify for disability or unemployment, so he’s starting a job search. “I do like to work. It drives me crazy to be at home and not working. But it’s hard to look for a job in sweats and tennis shoes. So the ability to go to Target and get new shoes was a blessing. Thank you!”
TIHAN donors also helped Paul by donating used dress pants, shirts, ties, and jackets. “Now,” he said, “I am ready to start interviewing.” Paul contacted us to tell us how grateful he is for that $25 gift card we gave him for the holidays. “It’s important for me to tell people that their donations are actually used, and how they help, so please tell your donors for me.”
Paul also used the $25 gift card to Fry’s that we gave him in November for a small crockpot and dishes that were on clearance for under a dollar. TIHAN also connected Paul with an “SOS Kit.” SOS stands for “Starting Over Supplies,” and these SOS kits come from our partnership with The Assistance League of Tucson, which operates a nonprofit thrift store that donates their proceeds to fund purchases of new items needed by local nonprofits. Each SOS kit includes bed linens, basic kitchenware, and necessities such as a laundry basket and can opener . “You have no idea how helpful that was,” Paul shared. “Without that kit, I wouldn’t have had much. Having a new pillow and sheets really helps you get good sleep and feel better.”
Paul’s been living with HIV for 35 years. His anti-retroviral medications have reduced the level of HIV virus in his system to the sought-after “undetectable” level. It’s not a cure, and HIV still affects him. He’s had experiences with HIV stigma over the years, but tries to educate people when they say or do hurtful things. Overall, Paul said that things were going ok, “but then cancer, and then COVID hit. I wasn’t living on the streets,” he said, “but I didn’t have much. I never would have imagined I’d be in this position. But I have realized that anybody could be where I am at today. It doesn’t take much, and between the cancer and the pandemic, it happened quickly to me.”
Still, Paul focuses on the positive. “Small acts of kindness really do make a difference. Things like the shoes and crockpot and clothes, the CarePackages, the $25 for food each month, it really does help. I’m getting back on my feet again, and support like TIHAN is providing makes me feel like a person again. Because I had lost everything and had no money, I was feeling like a failure. But now, I am feeling like me again, and I’m positive about the future.”
Seeking Donations of Masks
Your help is needed. We have a supply of cloth masks, but it is becoming increasingly clear that these don’t offer the level of protection needed against the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. So we are seeking donation of surgical masks or KN-95 masks to share with our staff and volunteers, as well as for our CarePartners. This photo shows the type of masks we are seeking. You can drop them off at our office (2660 N 1st Avenue) between 8:30a-4:30p, or have them shipped directly through Amazon or other sites where you can purchase them. Thank you so much for your help!
Benefit Concert for TIHAN Will Feature Classical Guitarists
Dove of Peace Lutheran Church’s immensely popular free series of classical music concerts continues this with a classical guitar program on Sunday, February 13, at 2:00pm. Sunday, February 13 at 2pm. To keep everyone safe from COVID-19 surge we are now experiencing, this year’s concert has been changed from “in-person” and will now be live-streamed live online. This classical guitar concert will feature two acclaimed performers: Bin Hu (classical guitar) and Misael Barraza-Diaz (flamenco guitar). There is no charge for admission to this online concert, and viewers are encouraged to make a contribution to TIHAN. Virtual concertgoers can go the church’s website (doveofpeacetucson.org) to enjoy the concert live at 2:00pm on Sunday, February 13. Shortly after the conclusion of the concert, the recorded video program can be watched “on demand” at the same address.
In a study of 2,000 Americans, 81% reported music has helped them cope, sleep better and be more productive during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that music and virtual concerts allowed respondents to feel connected to one another during this time. As the majority of participants noted, music is a key coping mechanism in times of stress. There are many health benefits of music: it can ease stress and anxiety, enhance mood and emotional balance, cope with fear and loneliness, help heart health, improve memory, energize the body, manage pain, increase relaxation, and aid in sleep. Dr Chris Macklin, a former professor of musicology at Mercer University and an authority on the history of music in times of plague, writes that “music was not a luxury in times of epidemic uncertainty – it was a necessity.” Through this music, we are connected, and through your donations to support people in need, we are a stronger and healthier community.
Recruiting for a Few Key Volunteer Roles
We are continuing our monthly Volunteer Orientations via Zoom. We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities including administrative support, outreach and education, fundraising, and care and support roles working directly with people living with HIV. Contact us for information about our current volunteer opportunities, and we’ll get the process started for you. When the time comes, you’ll be ready to go and start making a difference!
Contact us at (520) 299-6647 or VolunteerCoordinator@tihan.org. We are currently recruiting for several volunteer positions including:
- Link Specialist Volunteers
- Operations Assistants (Front Desk Receptionist)
- Social Media Volunteer
- Program Committee Member
- Special Event Planning Team Volunteer
- And More!
We hope to find caring and compassionate people with the talents and skills to perform these important roles. The next Volunteer Orientation is Friday, January 28, 2022 via Zoom, so contact us now to learn more, and sign up to get involved.
Meet the Volunteer Behind the Mask – Byron
Talking to Byron about volunteering with TIHAN, you’ll notice he emphasizes gratitude. “People we serve are just so grateful to TIHAN for what we can provide,” he commented. “It makes me feel good about being part of this community.” Byron got involved with TIHAN about four years ago and helps in a few areas. “After I retired, I wanted to find a way to help people, to get involved in direct service.”
Byron serves as a Link Specialist volunteer, helping once a week for four hours to talk with CarePartners by phone or meet outside the TIHAN office front door (due to COVID), doing things such as providing CarePackages, connecting them with resources, and signing them up for events. Byron also assists with TIHAN’s monthly Poz Café lunch (“filling in where they need me and trying to keep everything rolling along smoothly”), and he’s also helping with data entry for CarePartner registrations.
After Byron and Rich (his partner of 34 years) retired, they moved to Tucson. Byron had a successful career as a program manager of software installation based at a company in Minneapolis. They decided to move to Tucson, which they choose because of the great weather for hiking and biking, and Tucson’s variety of performing arts options. After settling in to Tucson, Byron talked to some friends for ideas about volunteering, and TIHAN was suggested. “I decided I didn’t want to be on a board or a finance committee, but instead I wanted to get involved in direct service. I enjoy learning about resources and helping connect people with support.”
Byron recalled a story about watching one particular CarePartner over the course of two years make some positive changes in his life, and how rewarding that was. “From the first time I met him, I saw him eventually get a job, and a car, new clothes and a haircut, and start dating,” he commented. “It has been so good to watch him grow.”
Byron realizes it’s not always easy for people to ask for or accept help. “TIHAN can really supplement what support people have, and my role is to make that as easy and as comfortable as possible.” He related a story about meeting a CarePartner for the first time when he was doing a delivery to her apartment. “She looked like she was a little rough,” he remembered. “She asked if we had any razors and I told her we didn’t have any at that moment, but the next month when she came by for a CarePackage, I made sure to give her some razors. I think that made an impression on her, just as she had made an impression on me. She told me she really appreciated me being welcoming and nonjudgmental. I really enjoy seeing her each month at Poz Café or when she comes to TIHAN for a CarePackage.”
Byron’s experience with HIV when he lived in Minneapolis was primarily with friends who were gay and had strong support systems and solid resources available. He knew that his volunteering with TIHAN might be reaching a greater diversity of people, including more people who had been marginalized. He’s proud to be part of TIHAN’s network of support. “Even in the short time I’ve been volunteering here, TIHAN has grown and it’s rewarding to see us be more successful. And TIHAN has done a good job of continuing to provide support to people during the pandemic, finding new ways to help.”
Thank you, Byron, for being part of our network of donors and volunteers giving to ensure people living with HIV have support and resources to live well.
Featured Item of the Month: We’d Love Your Donations of Liquid Dish Detergent
CarePartners speak, and TIHAN listens. We know that liquid dish detergent is among the top requested CarePackage items. We prefer donations of smaller bottles of dish detergent to keep the weight of the CarePackage manageable, since many people walk, ride their bike, or take the bus to pick up their CarePackage. Donations can be dropped off at the TIHAN office Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm, or you can order supplies online and have them shipped directly to our office. Thank you so much for making a difference!
Help Us Stay Connected to YOU!
TIHAN strives to keep our records as current as possible so if you would like to update any of your contact information, please contact us at 520-299-6647 ext 204 or OperationsManager@tihan.org
