Poz Cafe Marks 10,000th Meal

Poz Cafe, a lunch program of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) and the largest regular gathering place for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Arizona, will reach an important milestone in this month, as it serves its 10,000th meal on April 17.

Scott Blades, Executive Director of TIHAN, stated: “Poz Cafe has been a blessing to hundreds of people, both people living with HIV/AIDS and those volunteers who want to do something to help and to learn and to serve. This is an amazing program that brings people to life, and we are thrilled to commemorate these 10,000 blessings that have occurred through Poz Cafe.”

Since its inception in 1999, Poz Cafe has served more than 9,900 meals to more than 525 persons living with HIV/AIDS. On April 17, 2008, Poz Cafe will serve its 10,000th meal. The program has also distributed 2,740 “care packages” (Poz MarketPlace bags) that have been donated by individuals and faith communities. The bags contain items that cannot be bought with food stamps (soap, shampoo, toilet tissue, detergent, cleaning supplies, paper towels, etc). Also, over the 10 years of its operation, TIHAN’s Poz Cafe has provided a hands-on AIDS education and service experience for more than 500 volunteers from Tucson’s congregations.

In honor of these 10,000 meals, TIHAN is seeking 100 people to offer a gift of $100 (or more) in honor of those living with HIV/AIDS who have been blessings in your life. Dr. Audrey Holland, one of TIHAN’s donors, stated, “Poz Cafe has long been a star in TIHAN’s crown---one of its most durable and respected community services. It would be lovely if we could assume that the need for Poz Cafe will go away, but we all know that the needs continues into the foreseeable future, and we need to be sure 20,000th meal will be served. Help however you can.” TIHAN is asking the community to sponsor Poz Cafe with a donation of $10, $100, $1,000, or $10,000 in honor of someone who has blessed your life, so that the organization can continue with 10,000 more blessings at Poz Cafe.

For the April 17 special edition of Poz Café, there will be a prize for the person receiving the 10,000th meal, and there will also be other festive surprises. The month’s menu includes Meat Loaf stuffed with Spinach and Cheese, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Green Beans, Dinner Rolls with butter, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Cranberry Pineapple Punch, and Iced Tea, Fresh Coffee, and Water. Poz Café is open only for people living with HIV, and registration is required. For more information and to register, call TIHAN at (520) 299-6647.