Poverello Newsletter Winter 2014

Winter 2014
2056 North Dixie Hwy
Wilton Manors, FL
954.561.3663
POST
A
s we enter a new year, I am filled
with the sense of hope. I am
thankful for the year just past
and am optimistic about the future for
Poverello.
generated from this success because,
not only did we see record sales, but we
also saw record numbers of people in
need coming to Poverello for basic living
essentials just so they could get through
the holidays.
This year we experienced more support
than ever from local businesses that helped
us with our holiday food and fund drives.
In addition, several restaurants provided
much needed support to raise money to
help us provide food for our clients for
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
the annual World AIDS Day events in
Fort Lauderdale. This saddens me. As
someone who was there at the beginning
of the epidemic, I can only feel heartache
to think that any of the people we have
loved and lost might be forgotten. I beg
that you not forget and genuinely ask that
you continue to support Poverello’s future.
As treatments improve for HIV, people are
living longer and their needs continue. In
fact, the fastest growing group accessing
Poverello’s food pantry is those 50
and older. As alarming statistics show,
Broward County is very hard hit with
new HIV infections. This means that our
mission and our community needs will
only increase.
Not only did we receive great support from
the business community, but many donors,
such as yourself, sent in contributions to
support the mission of Poverello, which
simply stated, is to serve those who are in
need and are among the most forgotten.
Poverello is dedicated to honor the dignity
of those affected by the HIV/AIDS
virus and to serve them with the highest
possible degree of understanding, respect,
and love.
This year we also have a reason to
celebrate. Poverello’s thrift store and
eBay® site saw record-breaking sales.
Our food pantry needs all of the revenue
Celebrating
25 Years of
Excellence
My only concern is that some seem to
forget the devastation that the AIDS
epidemic has wreaked on our community.
This year, very few people attended
So with both renewed hope and a renewed
sense of urgency we forge ahead in our
effort to serve people living with HIV/
AIDS. We couldn’t do this without your
help. I whole heartedly thank you for
everything you do on behalf of Poverello
and those we serve.
May God bless you in this new year.
Poverello’s mission is never more important than during the holidays when so many
of our clients are alone and suffering from illness, loneliness and a sense of loss.
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 1
1/15/14 8:11 AM
The stakes have not changed.
The struggle is no less important.
The missing piece is that today,
forgetting has become easier.
But we must not forget!
R
ecent reports have me very
disturbed. There is a rise of new
HIV infections in the United States.
This is accompanied by what appears to
be a lack of remembrance on World AIDS
Day. This is not an indictment, but simply a
disturbing observation.
For the past 25 years, the world and
nation have observed World AIDS Day
on December 1st. Those of us who do
remember, must remember. The AIDS
epidemic isn’t going anywhere, and
those of us in the trenches and within our
community must remember this fact.
Here are some statistics to support this
claim:
• In the United States, over 40,000 new
HIV infections are reported every year.
• One in every four people living with
HIV does not know they are infected.
• Since the beginning of the AIDS
Epidemic in the U.S., more than
597,000 deaths have been reported.
Currently, 1.1 million people are living
with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
• In Florida, Miami-Dade County
currently ranks number one in the
nation with the highest number of new
AIDS cases per capita in the United
States.
• Fort Lauderdale currently ranks
number two.
• Florida ranks third in the number of
persons living with AIDS.
• Roughly 12% of those living with
HIV in the nation currently reside in
Florida.
At the same time, reports indicate that
budget cuts will cause the National
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 2
Thomas M. Smith, CEO
Institutes of Health to lose more than $229
billion for AIDS research.
Even as we see major budget cuts,
astonishingly, this year actual cures and
not just treatments are being tested on
people living with HIV/AIDS. The very
word “cure” sounds unreal to those of us
who were coming of age at a time when
it seemed like nearly every week we were
attending a funeral for a friend who had
passed away from this terrible disease.
In those days we were unable to forget
what the stakes were and how important
the struggle was. The stakes have not
changed. The struggle is no less important.
The missing piece is that today, forgetting
has become easier. But we must not forget!
One way is to become part of the Poverello
Teams in the Fort Lauderdale AIDS Walk,
and Bike It For Life event, both coming up
this spring.
Every day at Poverello I look around at
pictures that document the milestones of
our agency. I see the faces of clients we
cared so much about and who are no longer
with us. We must not forget them.
More resources must be put into prevention
and education, including outreach. Food
and nutrition services along with exercise
are as important as ever. Two articles in this
issue of our newsletter point this out.
We thank all of you who have supported
Poverello for all these years and who share
our sense of responsibility. We thank you
for your ongoing support.
AIDS Memorial Quilt Hagan Park, December 1, 2013 World AIDS Day
1/15/14 8:11 AM
Poverello Celebrates
Volunteers for the Holidays
FOOD IS
Food Is Medicine
Part Two
MEDICINE
Good Nutrition Reduces The
Cost Of HIV Health Care
nutrition services are provided, they
enable PLWHA to remain in their homes
and maintain good health.
There exists traditional wisdom that what
we eat affects our health.
It is estimated that a diet for individuals
with unique combination of illnesses,
such as that associated with HIV/AIDS,
would cost about $20 in food per day;
whereas hospital costs per day would
amount to $4,000 or more. Another
recent study by the OMG Center for
Collaborative Learning reports that the
average healthcare costs for PLWHA,
in the six months following initiation of
food and nutrition services, dropped from
$50,000 per month to about $17,000 per
month.
Before the advent of modern medicine,
food and herbs were the main tools
available to aid in healing and help
people maintain their wellbeing. In the
case of HIV treatment, the combination
of medicine and nutrition can improve
health outcomes and decrease medical
costs.
Malnutrition is a leading cause of
hospitalization or nursing home
admittance nationwide.
Food and
nutrition, Poverello’s service mission,
can help reduce healthcare costs and serve
as inexpensive alternatives that could
prevent People Living with HIV/AIDS
(PWLHA) requiring hospitalization
and specialized care. When food and
Food Stamp Cuts Affect
the Most Vulnerable
On November 1, 2013, major cuts were
made to the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) better
known as food stamps. Benefits fell
for 1 in 7 Americans - most of whom
live in households with children,
seniors or people with disabilities.
According to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture the cuts will leave program
participants, with an average of $1.40
to spend on each meal. The amount
people get could drop even more if
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 3
Yet, food insecurity remains widespread
among PLWHA. At Poverello we seek to
address the issues of food and nutrition
for PLWHA.
* Information sources include
HIV HEALTH REFORM, www.hivhealthreform.org
and LIFELONG AIDS Alliance, www.llaa.org
Congress makes additional cuts later
this year when they try to work out a
new Farm Bill which funds the SNAP
program.
HIV disproportionately impacts low
income individuals, who may also
be receiving support through SNAP.
Proper nutrition is vital to people
living with HIV/AIDS and food
insecurity is already a problem for
them. The demand for Poverello food
pantry services is at an all-time high.
Your assistance and support are vital
so we may meet the growing demand
for services.
1/15/14 8:11 AM
Client Corner - Lee G.
Lee G. is an amazing example of an HIV survivor and an
enthusiastic client of the Poverello Center, Inc.
Lee grew up in Manhattan in the
1960’s with his two brothers, both of
whom struggled with addiction from
a very young age, and who introduced
Lee to drugs. Lee and his brothers
recovered from their early addictions
and have gone on to successful
careers. Lee recently celebrated a
family reunion that included Lee’s two
sons, two daughters, Lee’s brothers
and 19 grandchildren, to whom he is
very devoted.
Prior to his disability, Lee was a preschool teacher. In his
spare time he continues to teach special education students in
Broward County. Lee has a great love of music, particularly
drums and percussion instruments. “My special needs
students respond especially well to playing the drums,” says
Lee, “because of their exuberance and high energy. These
instruments help them focus and express themselves when
words are not enough.”
Lee learned of Poverello through a casual conversation with a
young woman during a medical transport. After completing the
necessary intake and eligibility with the County, Lee became
a Poverello client.
Lee accesses Poverello’s Food Pantry and Friends Fitness
Center, including the Center’s chiropractic care. “I love
Poverello,” says Lee. “I am thrilled
with the quality of the free services.”
Recently, Lee had some health setbacks
and is recovering from several falls.
“Poverello’s gym helps me a great
deal,” says Lee, “especially with my
mobility issues.” He was also recently
diagnosed with hydrocephalus. More
commonly known as water on the
brain, hydrocephalus can result in
increased pressure inside the skull
and progressive enlargement of the
head, often causing convulsions,
tunnel vision, and mental disability. In spite of all of this, Lee
remains optimistic and actively pursues all methods of healing
available to him.
“The chiropractic services I receive at Poverello’s Friends
Fitness Center are particularly beneficial,” Lee states. “I am
sorry I didn’t access these services sooner because I have
gotten such great benefits from them.”
Lee remains devoted to his family and community. Through his
therapy from Poverello, his continual love of music, Lee is doing
all he can to fight the ravages caused by HIV. Poverello remains
a central resource for Lee, who says “for that I am very grateful.”
Visit Poverello.org to Donate
Celebrating 25 years of providing nutrition to individuals with special needs
Poverello has an eBAY® store
page where you can find many
items to purchase online. Scan
the QR Code to the left or go to
http://stores.ebay.com/
poverellothriftstores.
Thrift Store Hours
Mon-Sat: 10 am - 7 pm • Sun: 12 pm - 5 pm
2056 No. Dixie Hwy.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
For Pick Up call
(954) 561-3663 ext. 119
Visit Poverello’s Booth at Pride South Florida
Saturday & Sunday, March 1 & 2, 2014
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 4
1/15/14 8:11 AM
Food And Exercise Combine To
Improve Medical Outcomes
Poverello
encourages
physical
activity as an important component
to our services to the community,
which are largely focused on
feeding clients and providing them
with nutrition education. Scientific
literature, published in the Journal of
Clinical Infectious Disease, supports
Poverello’s position that physical
exercise has many positive effects for
those living with HIV.
can impact individuals living with HIV
where such fitness routines are absent.
Poverello believes that exercise,
in combination with a good diet,
increases the sense of wellbeing. The
Friends Fitness Center exists to assist
the HIV community in its efforts to
enact lifestyle changes in combination
with diets low in fat and high in fiber,
which can reduce the risk of disease
progression and other health issues.
A study by Roenn Roubenoff, M.D. was
one of the first to “show that diet and
exercise are capable of reversing much
of the metabolic and body-composition
changes seen in lipodystrophy. Until
specific treatment is available, an
exercise program with a moderatefat, low-glycemic and high-fiber diet
should be considered.” Lipodystrophy,
a metabolic syndrome where the body
redistributes fat deposits from the face
and limbs to the waist and upper back,
is a disorder experienced by some
people living with HIV. Researchers at
Tufts University confirm the effects of
exercise on this disorder and also add
the same prescription is effective for
HIV-related abdominal obesity.
Multiple studies have documented
that regular physical activity results
in significantly less cardio-vascular
and musculoskeletal problems. Studies
indicate similar results for those living
with HIV, demonstrating reduced HIV
disease progression and an enhanced
quality of life.
Conversely, the
likelihood of negative health effects
As one of the largest food banks in
the nation serving this segment of the
population, it is Poverello’s intent to
meet both nutritional and physical
fitness needs of all of our clients. The
services at Poverello’s Friends Fitness
Center offers a gymnasium, physical
fitness and alternative health services
free of charge to all of our clients.
Friends
Fitness
Center
The Center is open to all Poverello
clients. We offer a fully equipped
gym as well as an alternative
therapies annex for acupuncture
and chiropractic treatments.
Call the center for information
regarding membership.
954.563.1299
Friends Fitness Center
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 5
This service is offered
at no charge to our clients.
1/15/14 8:11 AM
Community Partners Brighten The Holidays for Poverello Clients
When we think of the holidays we often
think of family. Whether it is our family
of origin or family of choice, we want to
connect with others whom we are close.
This year we, at Poverello, thought a
lot about families and holiday meals.
Holiday meals often bring families
together. When families do not have
enough food, as many of our families do
not, the holidays can be very stressful.
This year South Florida Gay News
(SFGN) and Storks Café and Bakery
adopted four Poverello families. Two
families were provided an entire
Thanksgiving meal, another two a
Christmas meal for themselves and their
caregivers. Both meals included a turkey
or a ham and all the trimmings along with
delicious deserts.
For Thanksgiving, Storks and SFGN
adopted one family that consists of a
single mother named Primrose who has
two girls and a boy. The other family is
the sister of a woman who passed away
from HIV/AIDS, and who is raising her
sister’s three children.
Perhaps the most gratifying aspect of
Primrose’s story is that her family delayed
their Thanksgiving feast so her daughter
could volunteer at a local nonprofit on
Thanksgiving morning; making the spirit
of holiday giving and receiving come full
circle. “Everything was just delightful,”
says Primrose.
If the spirit of Thanksgiving is gratitude,
perhaps the spirit of Christmas is sharing.
That is what SFGN and Storks focused
on when adopting two more families for
Christmas.
For Christmas, SFGN and Storks wished
to support those with limited resources
and who often require assistance due to
their disability. They provided John and
Raymond, two Poverello clients, with
enough food to feed four. Raymond
has serious mobility issues and requires
tremendous physical assistance. John
is living with HIV and is a long-time
volunteer at Poverello.
The goal of the gift was to provide John
and Raymond with enough food so they
could host a Christmas meal for their
friends and caregivers. This generous
gift gave them the chance to thank their
friends for everything they do to help
them throughout the year.
Because of the generosity of SFGN and
Storks these four families had everything
they needed to make the holidays bright.
But these families are only a tiny portion
of the clients we serve. Through generous
donations Poverello was able to provide
food to exceed our goal of 2,000 holiday
meals to our clients. Thank you to all
who gave generously to feed others.
VOTE FOR
POVERELLO
Help Poverello be the VERY BEST in South Florida.
Vote daily for Poverello as the best thrift store, and Poverello’s Friends Fitness Center as the best gym.
Visit: VOTE.Local10.com. Go to the Shopping tag and Thrift tag to find Poverello Thrift Store.
Go to the Working Out tag then to the Gym tag to find Friends Fitness Center.
You can vote every day between now and March 1, 2014.
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 6
1/15/14 8:11 AM
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS
THOSE LIVING WITH HIV
More than 40 Wilton Manors and
Fort Lauderdale businesses and
organizations partnered with the
Poverello Center, Inc. over the holiday
season to collect donated groceries,
personal hygiene items and financial
contributions.
“The generosity from our partners
enabled Poverello to give out more
than 600 additional bags of groceries
for the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays,” reports Terry Sommerville,
Poverello’s Food Pantry Manger.
“Each bag contained enough food
for four to five meals. Support from
the community enabled Poverello to
exceed its goal of providing food for
2000 meals this holiday season.”
As Broward County’s only food pantry
with the focused mission to serve those
living with HIV/AIDS, the Poverello
Center was very busy during the
Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
“We are exceedingly grateful,” says
Thomas M. Smith, Poverello’s CEO,
“to all those that partnered with
Poverello to assure those living with
HIV/AIDS had extra food this holiday
season.”
Holiday Food Drive Kickoff Party
MAC Cosmetics support the holidays
YUM International Restaurants
donate food baskets
With more than three decades of fund development,
nonprofit administration, marketing and social media
experience, Ron Wudarsky will help lead Poverello
Center’s future growth and awareness efforts.
Ron Wudarsky
Development Director
Ron’s early years include Development Director for
the Gay Rights National Lobby (Washington, DC), the
Co-Chair of the Southeastern Conference of Lesbians
and Gay Men (Atlanta, GA), Major Gifts Officer for
the YWCA of the USA and Director of Development
at Deafness Research Foundation, the Public Art Fund
and the Momentum Project (New York City, NY).
Ron will head up all of Poverello’s fundraising efforts, including events, as well
as the agency’s marketing, internet and social media collateral. Ron can be
reached at (954) 561-3663 ext. 103.
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 7
Thank you to all our
community partners that
helped Poverello provide
food for the holidays.
Aetna
Alibi Wilton Manors
Allied Kitchen & Bath
Amerijet International
BankUnited
Bills Filling Station
Boardwalk Bar
Center for Spiritual Living
City County Credit Union
City of Wilton Manors
Shawn & Nick’s Courtyard Café
Dudes Bar
Early Bird & Bear Bowling Leagues
Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
Gray Robinson Attorneys at Law
IberiaBank
Johnny’s
MAC Cosmetics
Michele’s Mediterranean Grill
Midland Medical
Molina Health Care
New Moon
New York Grilled Cheese Co.
Pivotal Fitness
Pride Center at Equality Park
Ramrod
Ron’s Barbershop
Rosie’s Bar & Grill
Rumors
SAGE
South Florida Amateur Athletic Assc.
South Florida Gay News
Steel City Gym
Storks Café & Bakery
SunServe
Village Pub
Wilton Towers
Women In Network
Women with Pride
Yarns & Arts
Yum International Restaurants
1/15/14 8:11 AM
Be a Volunteer!
Volunteers play a critical role in the
success of Poverello. A large number
of our volunteers have remained
with Poverello for many years – a
testimony to our friendly, team oriented
environment where individuals gain
a sense of personal satisfaction while
forging new relationships. Currently,
more than 120 active volunteers
donate selflessly of their time and skills,
enabling Poverello to provide life-saving
food to thousands in need.
Volunteers from Bluegreen Corporation
Opportunities
Visit www.poverello.org and click on Ways to Help then
Volunteer Information to learn more about the opportunities
at Poverello, or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Robert
Schelhammer at (954) 561-3663 ext. 112.
Individuals
Looking to become part of an active community or searching
for self-actualization? Individuals will find plenty of
opportunities at Poverello. Those looking to volunteer may
choose a certain project to give of their time, or have a set
schedule throughout the year.
Corporate Projects
Poverello offers a broad array of opportunities for local
companies wishing to make a difference in the community.
Previous corporate projects have included refurbishing our
Friends Fitness Center, landscaping our grounds, preparing
and packing groceries in our food pantry, sorting and retail
Newsletter15JAN14.indd 8
activities at Poverello’s Thrift Store, conducting food drives
and participation in special events such as Bowling to Fight
Hunger in August or Bike It For Life in the spring.
Schools / Universities
Poverello offers a wide variety of fun, exciting and
valuable opportunities for personal development, academic
requirements and service-learning. Fraternities, sororities,
high schools and other civic-minded groups are welcome.
Previous projects have included food and fund drives,
special events, website and marketing design.
Community Service
Poverello welcomes community members wishing to fulfill
court-ordered requirements for community services. There
are certain situations, however, that may prohibit individuals
from fulfilling court requirements onsite. Probationers and
parolees are requested to first contact Robert Schelhammer,
Volunteer Coordinator, at (954) 561-3663 ext. 112.
1/15/14 8:11 AM