(no subject)

The Damien Center in downtown Albany, NY assists people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. It’s a real center, someplace you can go to get free home-cooked dinner (it is, or was, after all, in a house), hang out, make friends, play with the dogs, receive help getting medical care (though no care is given there; it is a community center inside an old house, not a clinic) and all sorts of other things. People are even welcome to live there for a time, leave their children for care during work, anything they need. This is the center’s pitch:

You are not alone – Maybe you tested HIV+ very recently; maybe you’ve known it for some time, but this is the first time you’ve reached out for information or support. The Damien Center creates an environment where people can gather to share information, experiences, and make new friends – friends who understand what it is like to live with this disease.

There’s no need for you to handle this by yourself. You are not the only person in our community facing this. Just hearing how someone else has adjusted to living with the virus can be enough to help you realize that life is still good, that you can still have love and laughter.

The physical space of the Damien Center, where it has been since 1990, was destroyed by a fire this morning. The first time I stepped into that house I was seven years old. I’ve been informed that the house can be repaired, but the center is going to need a lot more money.

This is a news story describing the devastation the fire has caused to the local HIV+ community, as well as a little more detail on what the center does (including the amazing PAWS program, which anyone who knows me could guess I love).

If you’ve even got a dollar to spare, please consider giving it to the Damien Center through their funding website. And if not, passing the virtual hat would be appreciated.

ETA: Sigh, this was meant for signalboost; oh well, I guess it's crossposted now! Sorry if anyone gets spammed.