Care for Aids is a non-profit organization started by two college students who were confronted by the harsh realities of life for HIV-positive men and women in Kenya.
Seeing both the physical and spiritual needs of these suffering people, they believed the Kenyan churches had the power to be more than a house of worship but could be a haven for medical care, life counseling and HIV support. Thus, partnership was established with local Kenyan churches.
However, before meeting spiritual needs, the physical needs had to be met. Without proper medical, nutritional and hygienic care, these individuals have limited life expectancy. However, with proper care and education, their life expectancy can increase to about 10-20 years. Other physical means used are teaching them trade skills to help them produce an income and provide food.
Once caring for their physical needs, spiritual needs are provided through counseling and teaching the HIV clients about the gospel. This provides hope, meaning and purpose to the lives of those who have been kicked out of their families and despised by their communities. By tangibly demonstrating Christ’s love, these churches are empowering individuals and transforming communities every day.
Within Kenya, approximately 1.4 million people are infected with HIV. Care for Aids currently has 10 centers which each care for 80 clients a year. It costs about $18,000 a year to run these centers, coming down to about $20 per month, per client.
So how can you help? A book drive is going to be held during finals week – Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, and Monday through Wednesday, May 1-3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
in the student center.
Caroline Scherer, a senior family relations and nursing major from Morgantown, W.Va., is a student leader for this book drive and encourages students to save a life.
“I know it can be tempting to sell your books back for money, but when put in perspective, how often do we get the chance to save a life?” Scherer said. “I hope students and faculty realize the opportunity we have to impact lives in Kenya by simply donating our used textbooks. We can really make a difference.”
Donated books will be shipped to companies all over the United States who will resell the textbooks and give the proceeds to Care for Aids. Last year, 11 universities held book drives and raised $64,000. This year there are 27 universities involved such as LSU, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Penn State and Auburn. The goal is for each site to collect 1,000 books.
Senior biology major Rebekah Tran, from Farmville, Va., has volunteered with the book drive and donated books before.
“It was a great opportunity to share in the ministry going on in Kenya,” Tran said. “Since HIV doesn’t have to be a fatal disease, it was neat to be a part of lengthening [the Kenyans’] lives and providing them a sense of community.”
It takes $20 a month for a client to receive care, and by donating your books you can help save a life. All editions are accepted as long as they are in good condition. Students who donate three or more textbooks will receive a free t-shirt.
Elizabeth Cherry, a first-year pharmacy student from Somerset, Ky., encourages students to get involved with something that is bigger than themselves.
“The book drive isn’t asking us to go out and buy something or bring in things we don’t have,” Cherry said. “We all have books that we won’t ever use again, so why not donate it to a great cause?”