The a.l.p.h.a. Choice Food Pantry

by M. Hope

As part of its on-going vision and expanded efforts at outreach, education, and community-building, Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (a.l.p.h.a.) operates the Choice Food Pantry. Our new location is: 575 N. 8th Street, Boise ID 83702.

In keeping with its stated mission, “The a.l.p.h.a. Choice Food Pantry is a free support service for individuals infected with or directly affected by HIV or AIDS. It is our goal to provide service to clients who qualify, without discrimination or requirements.” A qualifying client is an individual infected with HIV/AIDS. In addition, care givers to clients as well as members of the immediate family living with clients are directly affected by HIV/AIDS, and so they are served through the Choice Food Pantry as well.

In 2015, a.l.p.h.a. celebrates 12 years of life and service to our community. Operated in the early years on a shoestring budget and with few physical resources or volunteers, the Choice Food Pantry was reorganized, modernized—rejuvenated in the early fall of 2013.

Since that time, The Choice Food Pantry has continued to grow, expanding the ways and means to better reach more client households in need in the Boise metropolitan area and in surrounding communities in Ada and Canyon counties.

The Choice Food Pantry now operates year long, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day when the a.l.p.h.a. Office is closed for business. Up from three days of operation per week in 2013 and 2014, the spring of 2015 saw the Choice Food Pantry doubling the hours of service. Currently, the Choice Food Pantry is staffed and ready to assist clients from Noon to 3:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as 5:00 to 8:00PM on Thursday evenings. Access to the services of the Choice Food Pantry outside of normal hours is possible, and is provided by advance appointment with the a.l.p.h.a. Office.

In 2013, the a.l.p.h.a. Choice Food Pantry collected, processed/repackaged, stored and distributed over 7,000 pounds of meat, fresh produce, dairy, and canned/packaged food as well as personal care and home cleaning products. A total of 48 households were served, comprising 101 people. This was possible only through the dedicated work and contributions of a.l.p.h.a. staff and volunteers, a renewed partnership with the The Idaho Foodbank, and generous donations of money and in-kind services/gifts from local organizations and sponsoring individuals—in particular, the Imperial Sovereign Gem Court of Idaho.

Early expansion efforts in 2014 saw the Choice Food Pantry participating with the El-Ada Community Partnership in promoting and facilitating the Feed the Children initiative. Choice Food Pantry client households were identified in the spring, and some 2,500 pounds of boxed food and personal hygiene/home care products were collected and distributed to 41 households comprising 103 individuals.

Later that summer, the Choice Food Pantry became a partner agency and authorized distribution site with El-Ada, and began distributing food to low income households as part of the USDA food commodities distribution program. Inasmuch as the majority of a.l.p.h.a. clients are of low income, this arrangement with El-Ada and the USDA was a welcome enhancement to the services and supply of foodstuffs available through the Choice Food Pantry.

This partnership also allowed the Choice Food Pantry to be of service in another, important way: to help provide for the food and nutrition needs of low income individuals and households who did not qualify as a.l.p.h.a. clients, but who were in no less need of food assistance.

By the end of 2014, the Choice Food Pantry had hit noteworthy milestones in service to the community: over 35,000 pounds of meat, fresh produce, dairy, and canned/packaged food as well as personal care and home cleaning products were collected, processed, and distributed to support the needs of 92 client households comprising 214 individuals. Households and individuals served were double the number of 2013. And, of those 92 households served, 62 (a full two-thirds) were qualified both as a.l.p.h.a clients and USDA clients. The distribution of 35,000 pounds of goods represented a dramatic 500 percent increase over 2013 numbers.

In early 2015, the Choice Food Pantry teamed up with The Idaho Food bank to host a “Cooking Matters” course. The six week/six meeting course, funded entirely by The Idaho Food bank and national sponsors, provided selected Choice Food Pantry clients with valuable information and educational materials on nutrition and health, food buying, food preparation and food safety. Participants were provided a cookbook and cooking utensils, and earned a Certificate of Completion—all at no cost to the course participants.

Much of the time in each class meeting was devoted to hands-on preparation of a nutritious family-style meal that was staged, cooked and served by participants to one another. The inaugural course was quite a success, and more courses are being planned for this year and into 2016.

In anticipation of serving a greater need from even more households and persons during 2015, a.l.p.h.a. continues to actively seek volunteers and to solicit additional organizations and individuals to contribute their time, talent, and treasure to the Choice Food Pantry and related outreach efforts. Current figures indicate that, for 2015, the Choice Food Pantry is on target to distribute some 50,000 pounds of food and personal care/home cleaning products to over 125 client households comprising some 250 individuals in need. With on-going support, the a.l.p.h.a. Choice Food Pantry can accomplish its vital mission of service, and continue to directly and positively impact the lives of at risk individuals and families in our community.

For additional information about the good work of a.l.p.h.a. and the Choice Food Pantry, or to learn more about volunteering or making cash and/or in-kind donations, please do contact a.l.p.h.a. at (208) 424-7799.

Boise AIDS Walk: A look into the inaugural event of the year

by Ezikiel Coy

The Boise AIDS Walk was the first of its kind in Idaho. Not only was it successful, but the organizer of the event had never done something of this magnitude. Against tall odds and tight deadlines, he was able to overcome and start a new yearly event highlighting the spirit of Idahoans; to care about each other, and to survive great obstacles. I interviewed Jerry Nabarrete-Stuart to better understand the effort and passion that goes into creating a charity benefit. Looking deeper into the world of charity benefits, I found that this was the first family friendly charity to take place for the benefit of those living with HIV/AIDS.

The Imperial Sovereign Gem Court of Idaho has three charities that they support through their various bar and benefit organization: The Jimmy Moore Fund, The Jerry Swett Fund, and P&P Food Pantry. According to the official by lines, the organizations provide fund for medical care, living expenses and travel, and food for people who live with AIDS. Because of the resounding success of benefits throughout the year, the funds are available to many local Idahoans who desperately need them in order to maintain their health and home. The Boise AIDS Walk raised over $1400.00 for these programs with the help of the Imperial Sovereign Gem Court of Idaho, Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (A.L.P.H.A), and Centro de Communidad y Justica (CCJ). All of these 501(c)(3) organizations contributed to putting together the nearly $600.00 required in fees, license, insurance, and paperwork necessary to see an event such as this take place.

Like many great ideas, this event was born from a very personal moment. When asked about his motivation to give back to the HIV/AIDS positive people of Idaho, Jerry said that, “seeing there was a need to help those living with HIV/AIDS, and teaming up with the gem court provided an amazing opportunity.” I pressed a bit harder, because I could feel that there was a deeper need to help others hiding underneath his humble exterior.

“Just having a close friend that is going through this daily, and recognizing need that we still need awareness for this, while at the same time helping those living with this. It not only affects those with it but the entire community. We are all a family that needs support from one another. It’s important to let them and the community know that there is a support network and there are those that do want to help.” – Jerry Nabarrete-Stuart

I have no doubt that we all know at least one HIV+ person. Understanding that there are those in our community still afraid to reach out and find a caring soul to connect with because of the stigma and prejudice behind our assumption of what it means to be positive. A wonderful side effect of this event is that it wasn’t just hidden away in a bar, or surrounded by the usual bar-going crowd. This was the first family friendly HIV/AIDS benefit to take place in Boise. Conversations of what it means to be positive were being had around another generation of people who will grow up and realize, just as the organizer of the event said, “everyone should be loved despite being positive or not.”

That is a powerful message that the future Boise AIDS Walk will continue to bring to the warm light of day. Luckily, with the support of the Flying M Coffee House, The I.S.G.C.I., A.L.P.H.A., and CCJ, the future events should be bigger and even less expensive to produce so that more awareness gets to help those in our community who are struggling, and suffering. They are all organizations that hope to make the world a more open, inviting, understanding place where those who need help from the community can get it without judgement or fear of repercussion.

Next year’s Boise AIDS Walk is planned for the Saturday before Pride, but don’t let that long timeline fool you. People are working hard year round to make sure that the issues facing the gay community are not swept under the rug. If you’re looking to volunteer your time and energy into a great cause, getting in contact with any of the organizations below can make a huge difference in so many lives. All of their websites are provided for our readers. We invite each one of you to reach out and help our local community to become a better place for all.

For more information about the three charity funds, including application information, please visit the ISGCI website: http://idahogemcourt.org

Information about A.L.P.H.A. and their HIV testing services can be found here: http://www.alphaidaho.org

CCJ and their mission can be better understood at their website: http://www.comunidadyjusticiaidaho.org