Scott Blades Executive Director
Quick Links to This Month’s Articles
- Preparing for the Season of Sharing Joy Through Your Gifts
- A Free Community Event to Raise Awareness and Support Among the Hispanic/Latinx Community
- Brunch Event Will Honor Scott Blades’ Birthday and Support People Living with HIV
- TIHAN Pilots a New Program for People Living with HIV: Positive Experiences
- Join us as a Community Ambassador Volunteer!
- Help Us Honor Your Loved Ones at the All Soul’s Procession – Sunday, November 5
- COVID-19 Updates: Local Uptick in Cases, Free Tests, Vaccines, and More
Preparing for the Season of Sharing Joy Through Your Gifts
A gift can mean so much more than the actual item. Every December, providing gifts and gift cards to CarePartners living with HIV lets them know that someone is thinking about them and wants to share with them the love of the season. CarePartners often tell us that the gift they receive from TIHAN is the one gift that they know they will get to enjoy each year. Can you help us make this a reality in 2023? As you shop and help spread the word, please remember:
- Gifts must be new and unused and should be donated unwrapped.
- Because CarePartners belong to a variety of faith traditions, or may not identify with any faith, we ask that holiday gifts do not portray any religious images or messages.
- It’s important for us to be able to keep gifts equitable, so please look for gifts with a value between $15 and $25.
- We are also hoping to give a $25 gift card to stores like Target, Walmart, and Fry’s to every CarePartner, so we also need donations of $25 gift cards.
- The greatest need is for gifts that would be appropriate for adult males.
- Please bring all donations to the TIHAN office by MONDAY Dec. 4.
Thank you for helping TIHAN make the upcoming holiday season more special for Tucsonans living with HIV.
A Free Community Event to Raise Awareness and Support Among the Hispanic/Latinx Community
National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), first observed in 2003, helps address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latinx communities, promotes HIV testing, and addresses HIV stigma. It is also a community mobilization effort that helps promote effective ways to prevent, treat, and stop the transmission of HIV among Hispanic/Latinx people. TIHAN will be participating in the local commemoration which takes place on Friday, November 3 from 5:30-9:00pm on the southeast corner of Ajo Way and 6th Avenue. It will feature free food, music, entertainment, arts & crafts, a costume contest, and a community resource fair. It’s free and open to all, and family friendly. Taking place in the parking lot at Underground Customs located at 3851 S 6th Avenue.
Brunch Event Will Honor Scott Blades’ Birthday and Support People Living with HIV
Join us for a delicious Saturday brunch catered by Chef Gary Hickey of Charro Steak & Del Rey. Brunch takes place at the Carriage House in downtown Tucson, located at 125 S Arizona Avenue, right next to Charro Steak & Del Rey. A modern setting with old-world charm, the venue features rich dark wood flooring, brick walls, high ceilings, light fixtures, and elegant crystal globe chandeliers. The century-old space previously hosted Chef Janos Wilder events and classes, and is now part of the SiCharro/Flores family. This beautiful buffet will include brunch options including eggs, chicken sausage, chile rellenos, bacon, green chile potatoes, Scott’s favorite carne asada, sunrise fruit salad with citrus vinaigrette, and assorted pastries. Two mimosas are also included! $75 per person includes a tax-deductible donation to TIHAN in honor of Scott’s birthday! To purchase tickets, visit https://tihan.ejoinme.org/brunch
TIHAN Pilots a New Program for People Living with HIV: Positive Experiences
Most of the people living with HIV who TIHAN serves are over the age of 50. According to a recent article in HIV Plus Magazine, “In 2021, the latest year for which data is available, people over age 50 accounted for 53 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S. By 2030, that proportion may be as high as 70 percent.” With the advent of effective medical treatments, people are living longer with HIV! However, with many people having accelerated aging issues due to their HIV, living alone, and having some medical concerns of being long-term survivors as well as issues related to aging, we are seeking to increase socialization opportunities, especially for HIV-positive seniors who live alone. Positive Experiences is a new TIHAN event we are trying in order to increase socialization opportunities for people living with HIV, especially those over the age of 50. We are trying this new program for a few months, thanks to a grant we received from Aunt Rita’s Foundation. Each month, we’re offering a free social event in the community. Attendance is limited. TIHAN will pay for the costs of the event, and transportation will be available within a limited distance. Guests are not permitted—only CarePartners living with HIV. Social events being considered include outings for a theatre performance or movie, museum visit, lunch/dinner at a local restaurant, game night, arts & crafts, visits to University of Arizona games, and more! If you are living with HIV and interested in getting information about this pilot program Positive Experiences, please contact a Link Specialist at the TIHAN office!
Join us as a Community Ambassador Volunteer!
Help us spread HIV/AIDS awareness and reduce the stigma through advocacy opportunities and community presence. A Community Ambassador volunteer is on our list so that when we receive a request to have an information table or booth at a community event, you can let us know if you can be at that event. Community Ambassadors get information on TIHAN, as well as program, event, and volunteer opportunities, and share that information, answer questions, and sign people up to be on our mailing list. Training is provided. There are few tabling opportunities each month (especially in the Spring and Fall), and we’re seeking volunteers to help us expand our community presence! Events include community health fairs, Pride events, community networking and awareness gatherings, volunteer or program engagement events, and more. If you are interested in getting out into the community and helping to represent TIHAN at events, please contact Heaven Rendon at 520-299-6647 or volunteercoordinator@tihan.org. Thank you!
Help Us Honor Your Loved Ones at the All Soul’s Procession – Sunday, November 5
This annual procession just west of downtown Tucson celebrates and honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead commemorations, this 34th annual event is scheduled for Sunday evening, November 5. Thousands of people gather to watch or participate in the procession, providing time to remember, to grieve, to publicly mourn and celebrate the universal experience of death. Once again, TIHAN will have a group walking together in the procession to honor and remember those we have lost, and we invite you to join us. (If you cannot be there but want us to honor your loved one, please send their name and a photo to scott@tihan.org) We’ll be walking and carrying a banner and have our Tree of Life with photos of our loved ones in lanterns. The group will gather at between 4-5pm on Grande Avenue just south of Speedway, then at 6pm we’ll begin the procession, walking along the route along Grande, then turn south on Congress St and proceed to the MSA Annex in The Mercado District for the finale. If you are interested in walking with our TIHAN group, please contact Scott at scott@tihan.org or 520-299-6647 ext 202. You can also just come and watch along the route as the procession goes by, honoring lives that TIHAN holds precious.
COVID-19 Updates: Local Uptick in Cases, Free Tests, Vaccines, and More
As you have probably heard, there is an increase in local cases of COVID-19 once again. Please consider getting the new shot designed to address the most recent strain, and mask up when needed. Regarding home tests, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Here’s the link to order: https://www.covid.gov/tests. Also, before you throw out any tests that might be “expired,” check the FDA’s website to see if your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended. Click here to find out. (hyperlink to: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list) For our CarePartners living with HIV, we also have a Health Kit, courtesy of the Pima County Health Department, that contains two COVID tests, a mask, gloves, digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, mini first aid kit, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and lip balm. If you haven’t received a health kit yet, contact a Link Specialist. And please contact your HIV medical provider about getting the updated vaccine for the new strain of COVID-19.
