HIV Support Services Update

As you all know by now the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is only 3 days away! So we thought we would take the opportunity to share with you some of the great programming we are able to do because of the funds we raise from this very important event. The donations we receive from this event go to support all of AIDS Calgary’s programs and operations and one part of that is our HIV support services program.

Calgary’s HIV Support Services provides compassionate, non-judgemental, low barrier services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Via the Calgary Cares Centre, we offer a “client living room” which allows individuals to drop in and receive support, connect with peers, access the computer, have a coffee etc. We provide counselling and case management services to assist individuals in reaching their goals and improving their quality of life.

HIV Support Services has several new and exciting events coming up to better support the needs of the people we serve. Some of these new activities and events include:

• Extended hours! We are now open until 8:00pm on Thursday evenings, drop in or by appointment.
• Holistic health services are available. Thanks to the support of many amazing volunteers we are able to offer our clients free massages, acupuncture and yoga classes on site.
• Educational workshops on a variety of topics including anger management, stress management, and self-esteem. Due to popular demand we will be offering a second Wills and Estates clinic that will be held in October.
• Recreations afternoons are an opportunity for people to connect with others while watching movies or playing board games.
• On-site testing is now available! Through our new initiative with Safeworks we are able to offer free onsite STI testing and some vaccinations twice per month.

These are just a few of the new initiatives that our Calgary Cares Centre is offering on top of the day to day support that we provide to people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS. Our clients are incredibly grateful for the support that they receive from us; one told us:
“I had HIV now for 13 years, along with Hep C. AIDS Calgary is a place here I can be accepted without prejudice. The peer support is very good. The acupuncture is helping with my arthritis in my knee”.

We encourage you to visit our website to register for the walk if you haven’t done so already and if you are a walker, remember you have time for one last email to friends and families asking them for their support We thank you so much for continuing to support all of AIDS Calgary’s initiatives!

All of our great events and new initiatives can be found on our HIV Support Services monthly calendar. The calendar is updated monthly; check it out on our website: http://www.aidscalgary.org/