August 2009 Newsletter
“While recognizing that our respective traditions may differ regarding possible
prevention strategies with respect to HIV/AIDS and related afflictions, we unreservedly unite in calling for unrestricted
palliative care and appropriate attention for all those suffering, threatened or victimized by the tragic pandemic.
Care of the sick and less fortunate is perceived as the very emulation of the Divine attributes. This
call goes out especially to governments and all who have the power, means, and influence to implement it.”
--from the International Jewish
Catholic Liaison Committee conference in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006.
Website:
WIHAN has renovated its website, www.wihan.org! Check it out today.
Have we forgotten to list your house of worship as a WIHAN member? Have
we forgotten to list your organization as a WIHAN partner? Got an idea for information that should appear
on the website? Let Jen know right away! Be sure to include your organization’s
web address! Contact Jen at wihan@wihan.org. Please also send pictures for the website.
Upcoming fundraiser:
Huron Hills Baptist Church will host a carnival
as a fundraiser for WIHAN at noon on Sunday, September 6. Join in the fun at 3150 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor
www.huronhills.org. If enough people show up, we may be able to get Executive
Director Phil Volk wet in the dunk tank.
Other upcoming events:
Ann Arbor AIDS Walk is Sunday, September 27. Join the WIHAN team by going to
www.aidswalkmichigan.org and clicking on “Ann Arbor.” You can then register
to join the team or donate towards the WIHAN team’s goal. AIDS Walk will benefit the local HIV AIDS
Resource Center, based in Ypsilanti, which provides testing and services for people living with HIV.
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is October
15. Join WIHAN to observe this day and promote testing. Contact us via wihan@wihan.org if you would like to join in the planning and organizing.
World AIDS Week is December 1-7.
WIHAN will again conduct the candlelight vigil and Interfaith Service as part of the University of Michigan observance.
To speak at either event or to get involved, please contact us at wihan@wihan.org.
Food Donations:
Food Gatherers, which supplies most of the food pantries in Washtenaw County, has run out of food
due to low donations and higher-than-expected demand. Please help! The HIV/AIDS Resource
Center (http://hivaidsresource.org/) has a food pantry that will accept donations or you can give directly to Food
Gatherers (www.foodgatherers.org).
Volunteers Needed:
WIHAN still needs volunteers to help with outreach and presentations, as well as volunteers (both
lay people and clergy) to conduct pastoral care for people in the hospital. If you can volunteer for either
one, please email us at wihan@wihan.org.
March 2009 Newsletter
WIHAN has been very active these past few months. WIHAN members
have done a great deal of pastoral care for those living with HIV/AIDS. This work includes hospital visitations.
WIHAN has helped those living with HIV to pay for health care and prescription. We also financed a group
of U of M students who spent their spring break working with people living with HIV/AIDS in an underprivileged part of New
Orleans. In the area
of public awareness and testing, WIHAN led a candlelight vigil and Interfaith Service on World’s AIDS Day at U of M,
participated in a Christmas AIDS service with Oasis (an Episcopal LGBT ministry), organized Washtenaw’s
observance of National Black HIV Awareness Day (see http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/02/ypsilanti_event_raises_awarene.html) at Browns Chapel AME Church.
In 2009 we will continue WIHAN’s pastoral care and ministry to those living with HIV, as well as our public awareness
work. Also this year we want to start a biweekly testing and HIV/AIDS information outreach in a place of
worship in southeastern Ypsilanti. Several houses of worship have asked WIHAN to come and talk to them
about HIV/AIDS in Washtenaw County and how they can make a difference.
The calling is great but the funds are limited. Some of the people who give to WIHAN have been hard
hit by the economic downturn and so cannot afford to give as they have in the past. We pray for them in
these troubling times. If you are able to contribute at this time, please do so.
Although many
volunteers labor many hours every week, WIHAN has no paid employees. Therefore 100% of our funds goes directly
into our work. If you could send money to help keep our HIV/AIDS ministries alive for another year, please
send a check to WIHAN at 1382 Russell St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198.
Thank you
all for your years of support.
Phil Volk
WIHAN Executive Director
WIHAN2004@yahoo.com (note our new email address!)
PS- If you are able to volunteer to help with our website
or to give presentations, please contact Board Member Sheyonna Watson at sheyonnm@gmail.com. We are also looking for donations of the following items:
a laptop computer (and perhaps a mouse to go with it), a projector that plugs into the laptop for PowerPoint presentations,
a filing cabinet, and file folders.
