Dear Ralph:
I met an HIV-positive mother recently named Lisa who made an unthinkable choice: She gave up her children.
Her story, which I’ll quickly share, inspires me to issue a challenge to you: Help us stop this from ever happening again by joining a very special year-end challenge.
We snapped the photo of Lisa above at APLA just a few days after she reunited with her 10-year-old son. Their journey is heartbreaking.
Lisa is a military veteran with two college degrees, three children, and a lot of friends – until she contracted HIV.
Suddenly too sick to work, she did what any of us would. She quit her job and turned to loved ones for help. But things had changed: Old friends were suddenly busy. Other parents stopped bringing their children over to play.
She lost her apartment. Home became a hotel, then a motel, and eventually a sidewalk. It broke her heart to raise the kids on the street, so she arranged for foster care. Within days, they were with a new family in another state – gone but hardly forgotten. That’s when she came to APLA.
Our staff wasted no time: They walked her to the food pantry for groceries, gave her a bus pass because she biked to the doctor, and found an affordable place she could call home. We helped with the deposit, and now she pays the rent.
That’s when the really good news came: She would get her son back. A few days after the reunion, we took that photo. Her struggle is far from over (the other children are still in foster care), but it’s a start.
No one should face what Lisa has faced. That’s why I’m asking for your help right now: We must raise $50,000 by December 31 to continue offering help to clients like her. Your gift of any amount before the new year will ensure that we can find safe, permanent shelter so that people living with HIV/AIDS can thrive.
Remember: The services APLA offers are unique. Many clients face rejection from friends, family, or even care providers. But I believe we must offer a safe place to get help. If you agree, please consider a generous year-end gift. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Craig E. Thompson
Executive Director
P.S. Lisa’s challenges aren’t over. In the coming months, we’ll help stock the new kitchen with food, and our dental staff will care for her oral health. But we can’t offer these services without your help. Please give generously now.
