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As the cold weather approaches, the Colorado AIDS Project is helping clients stay warm. CAP collects winter outerwear through the Coats for Colorado Program sponsored by 7News and Dependable Cleaners, as well as through coat donations directly to our agency. CAP distributes its collection to our clients throughout the winter months.
"Many of our clients can’t afford a warm coat, so to give them one is a gift that means a great deal and contributes to their health. They so appreciate the coats even though the clothing isn’t brand new," said CAP Case Manager Eugena Blair, organizer of CAP’s Coat Drive for the past two years. Eugena picks up the coats, organizes them and helps CAP staff distribute the coats to clients.
Additionally, Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) Program volunteers working with the homeless and other at-risk populations have been giving out coats on their weekly rounds, along with other supplies and HIV prevention information.
"CHOW volunteers take to the streets to talk to people about ways they can prevent HIV infection. While we are there, it’s beneficial to be able to provide a coat to a person, especially a young person, who has none," said Cajetan Luna, CAP’s Prevention Director. "It builds a trust that what we are sharing is real and that we not only care about their health, but about them as people."
Gathering and distributing coats is just one example of the extra ways CAP helps clients during the end of the year holiday season. Through the years, donations to CAP’s annual Toy Drive have filled CAP with piles of playthings for children.
This year the agency is encouraging people to contribute gift cards from local retailers to CAP to give to clients.
"It is our holiday hope to empower our clients, who are parents, with the ability to select and purchase items for their children. So that parents may realize this experience, we are inviting donors to give gift cards for local retail outlets in the place of toys," said Eugena Blair, who also organizes the agency’s Toy Drive.
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"By providing our clients with the resource of a gift card, people are giving them the joy of purchasing new clothes, books and food for their family, in addition to a toy. Cards to Target, WalMart, Albertsons, King Soopers or Safeway, or local book stores give our clients aisles and aisles of choices and for many, enjoyable choices are often rare," said Blair.
Clients will receive the cards at a holiday reception held in mid-December. To honor the confidentiality of those we serve, CAP is restricting this event to only clients and CAP staff. By giving a family a gift card to a local retail outlet, donors are giving a special outing along with a meal; new, warm clothes; and an individualized gift that will bring warm feelings for the whole family.
CAP will launch into the season of gratitude with its traditional Thanksgiving Food Basket program. During Thanksgiving week, more than 75 volunteers from the community will distribute groceries for a complete turkey dinner to over 400 clients who use the CAP Food Bank. Local businesses such as Starbucks, Schwab, and Reed Business Information encouraged their employees to give several hours of their time to organize all the food staples and drive them home. Teams from other organizations such as the Girl Scouts and several churches also participate.
Editor’s note: The Colorado AIDS Project is the oldest and largest nonprofit, community based AIDS service and education organization in Colorado. Its mission is to provide its 1,800 clients with services such as bilingual case management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, a food bank, housing and transportation assistance, and emergency financial assistance. CAP also reaches thousands more through its bilingual HIV prevention and education programs, as well as the free and confidential HIV testing offered twice a month at its youth and adult testing clinics. For more information, visit www.coloradoAIDSproject.org or call 303-837-1501.
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