AIDS Services of Dallas

Mission:

Because they are a non-profit organization, ASD is very dependent upon the support of volunteers to accomplish their goals. The programs of ASD are a volunteer-based effort enhanced and supported by a professional staff. ASD has a number of volunteer opportunities available and makes every effort to assign each volunteer to an area of their choice.

The largest volunteer support ASD receives comes through Supper Club. The Supper Club has been in existence since the opening of ASD's first facility in 1987. Supper Club is a cadre of more than 60 religious, social, and civic organizations that provide hot, nutritious meals to ASD residents nearly every night of the month. In addition to sharing home-cooked meals, social interaction is also an important benefit. ASD believes Supper Club is particularly important for this population that at times is often prohibited access to the surrounding community due to the seriousness of their illness.

Residents are provided breakfast and lunch through government funding, but regularly scheduled evening meals are solely provided by volunteers and community organizations at their expense. Volunteers who participate in the Supper Club program prepare the meals for the residents and then stay at the facilities to visit and share the meal. Without this program, ASD residents may not receive the daily contact with the outside community that is vital to people living with a chronic illness.

St. Barnabas supports AIDS Services of Dallas through financial contributions and through participation in the monthly Supper Club program.

Programs and Services:

• Provides furnished, medically supportive housing at four facilities for moderate-income, low-income, and indigent people with symptomatic HIV/AIDS.

Home Health Care/Nursing:

• Provides 24 hour care and support to persons living with AIDS. Provides both medical assistance and assistance wit h the routine tasks of daily living.

Social work:

• Assists residents with psycho-social services such as: help with legal documents, on-site case management, substance abuse counseling, individual and group counseling, and grief support.
• Provides recreation activities for the children of ASD, and has helped with their adjustment to the community and to public schools.

Volunteer Program:

• Coordinates the time, energy, and talents of over 650 volunteers to provide essential supportive services to residents.

Food Services Program:

• Provides nutritious morning and noon-day meals five days a week through a paid cooking staff.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Supper Club volunteer
• Haircutting
• Massage therapy
• Grounds maintenance
• Bilingual help
• Teaching English as a Second Language
• Gardening
• Brunch clubs
• Painting
• Minor repair work
• Transportation
• Clothing alterations

Support Needs:

• Refrigerators (full size)
• VCR
• Exercise Bicycles
• Sewing Machines
• Tickets to movies or events
• Dorm refrigerators
• Vacuum Cleaners
• Yard tools (rakes, shovels, etc.)
• Cable-ready televisions
• Dishes, glasses, pots & pans
• Household cleaning supplies

Grooming Supplies:

• Shampoo
• Laundry detergent (any size)
• Paper towels
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Razors
• Shaving Cream
• Toilet paper
• Facial tissue
• Deodorant
• Conditioner
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Bar soap

For more information contact AIDS Services of Dallas at 214-941-0523.