An Employee Perspective

Why support AIDS Calgary Awareness Association? With so many charities looking for support in the community it can be difficult to decide where to lend your support. In the following article Tracie, an ACAA employee on our Development team, tells you why she thinks supporting ACAA is a positive choice for the Calgary community

It is hard to imagine, living in our well educated, exciting, and expanding city, that there could be someone in Calgary who is HIV positive. Many people who hear the word AIDS first think of Africa. Picture Calgary and think outside of Africa for a moment as you read this article.

I am here to tell you the reality of what AIDS Calgary Awareness Association faces every day. It could be a client who comes in because they just found out that they are HIV positive. Just think of some of the questions they may be asking themselves. Am I going to die? How did I get HIV? Who else that I know may have HIV? What do I tell my family? At ACAA, we have case workers who can listen to their story, help them with options, and somehow reassure that tomorrow will be better. What about the person who is on disability pay and does not have any food to eat as their next cheque is not for two more weeks? At ACAA, we can provide that person with a warm lunch and a take away package for the next day.

Currently, there are approximately 1400 people living with HIV in Calgary and over 4500 people living with HIV in Alberta. These numbers have been on the rise over the past 5 years. At first glance these numbers may seem low and one may not care. However, what if it was you? What if you were one of the people in Calgary who was newly diagnosed? Put yourself in someone’s shoes and try to imagine what a day would be like for them.

I would like to state reasons as to why supporting ACAA is a positive choice for the Calgary community. ACAA provides education, prevention, and counseling to those living with HIV and AIDS in Calgary and the surrounding areas. There is still discrimination and stigma that a person living with HIV might experience. Who would help that person defend their human rights if they were fired from a job because they were HIV positive? ACAA would help. Who would help someone who was kicked out of their apartment because the landlord wants to raise the rent? ACAA would help.

ACAA is a small agency in Calgary who makes small changes every day. Each small change is a link in a chain that is interconnected that can change all of us in Calgary and maybe all the way around the world. I am not here to argue that there is not a need for funding in Africa for HIV and AIDS. I am hear to state that ACAA is a strong organization in the Calgary community who serves the Calgary community and will continue to be supported by the Calgary community. Thank you to all of our volunteers, donors, and sponsors who have taken action and chose to support a local agency that is committed to making Calgary a better place for all.