For the past few years, the AIDS Ministry has provided about 150 bags of personal care items to uninsured and underinsured clients living with HIV/AIDS who are treated at the Early Intervention Clinic (EIC) at Mercy Care in downtown Atlanta. In April youth group members assisted the Ministry with assembly of the bags. We asked the EIC team to tell us about the clients who receive these bags and how they are distributed and used by clients. Here is what the team told us:

“Many of our clients are indigent, homeless, or living with limited income. Even those clients who are employed often have need of assistance. Many live with family members, such as a grandmother who cares for a client’s children, in order to avoid being homeless. For these clients, this support is even more substantial and needed.

The bags received from IHM AIDS Ministry are distributed daily to clients. They contain personal care items (e.g., bath soap, towels, toothbrushes, shampoo) and household cleaning items (e.g., detergent, dishwashing soap, cleanser). These everyday items are often taken for granted, but to the clients receiving them, they are a God send. We are always greeted with such gratitude from those receiving the bags. Every item, from body soap to household cleaner and hair products, is greatly appreciated. We are ever so grateful to the IHM AIDS Ministry for this support to our health care service and our clients.”

AIDS Ministry members purchase the items and assemble 20 bags per session about 3-4 times per year. If you wish to support this activity (financially or by donating items for the bags), please contact Jose Villegas at [email protected] or Laurie Ann Fallon at [email protected].