Monthly Musings from THP's Executive Director
"I do not understand the mystery of grace -- only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us." - Anne Lamott
I adore author Anne Lamott and I just finished reading her latest book, "Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace." When I first picked up the book, I smiled and thought that the title pretty much sums up an average week at THP.
Like this week.
The week started with some concern for frigid temperatures and a fairly sparse food pantry. Then, before we could even make a plan to meet these challenges, one donor dropped off several backpacks filled with gloves and scarves and canned goods.
Before we could get those over to Higher Ground, one of our food pantry angels arrived with her car stuffed with enough groceries to fill two huge carts. And because she hadn't done enough for us lately, she also left a generous check for our Year End Campaign.
Then the young woman who is doing a social work internship with us this year, let me know that the fundraiser she held at the bar she works at part-time, raised over $1,000 for THP's Winter Walk - with one of the bartenders donating all of his tips for the night.
Yesterday, a brand new client who has been in recovery for 27 days, went to Higher Ground for lunch for the first time. Afterwards, he told his case manager, "I've found my new family."
I wish I could share with you every small victory we witness each and every day here at THP. Fortunately, through your ongoing support in all manner of things, you, too, bear witness to this grace.
For that, and for you, we are abundantly grateful.
Blessings-
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Winter Walk for AIDS and Inaugural Ron Johnson 5K Run!
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You still have time to register for Triad Health Project's 23rd Annual Winter Walk for AIDS and Inaugural Ron Johnson 5K on December 7th at UNCG!
The Winter Walk for AIDS is one of the most significant and important fundraising events for Triad Health Project. The funds raised through sponsorships and community support are essential to maintaining our case management services, Higher Ground day center, and prevention and testing services. This year alone, we'll serve nearly 600 clients living with HIV/AIDS, and reach about 2,500 others through testing and education.
The walk registration is free and a commemorative t-shirt comes with a minimum of $50 raised. The registration fee for all runners is $45. All 5K runners will receive a special 5K commemorative t-shirt, a cool race bib and there will be age category prizes! Packet pick up will be Friday, December 5th at Fleet Feet Sports from 5-7 pm and Saturday at Omega Sports from 10-12.
Come down to the Kaplan Common right in front of the Elliott University Center at UNCG, beginning at 1 pm. We'll be offering onsite testing inside the EUC, Starbucks coffee, and Donut World donuts!
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Year End Giving
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Many of you have received our Year End Appeal in the mail and have already graciously opened your hearts and checkbooks (or donated online) to support our campaign. For that, we thank you. Some may not have considered how a donation to our Annual Giving supports not only our programs, but people.
People who are living with HIV everyday, people attending support groups and lunches, people receiving full HIV and STD screenings when they come in to get tested. It's through the support of our community that we are able to provide these important services for folks right here in Guilford County.
Be proud that you are a part of a community that cares about HIV/AIDS and see what we have been able to do in a year - together.
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Mark Cassity, Director of Higher Ground
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We worry over the hatred and violence that seems ready to consume our nation, our politics, and our world but we might do well to remember just how dangerous its alternative is. Love is dangerous. If you've ever actually been in love, you may know what I mean. Love is uncontrollable undomesticated, it makes you run into walls and wander into fields, it has you doing things for another or others without thought of return, it has you unthinkingly sharing your possessions; so much does it have you look outward, it threatens to erase your very self. When love reigns, she tells us what to do, we do not direct her. We are not in control.
And this terrifies us. (It means doing away with the illusion that we were ever in control in the first place.)
In contrast, hatred and prejudice are far safer. It will fan the illusory flames of control and moral superiority. It is a feast for our fragile mewling egos (personal and well as national as well as ethnic, economic, etc.)
You will die for the sake of love whereas hatred would have you kill. Hatred is safe. Love is dangerous. The latter is no place for cowards.
To those heroes and angels in our community who have chosen the thrilling, mapless, hard and scary way of Love for another year, thank you and bless you. Your companionship, support and example are life-giving by any definition.
Happy holy-days to us, all of us. All.
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Thanksgiving Indeed!
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We had so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Thank you to Mary Lacklen and her crew for preparing over 2,100 Thanksgiving Meals for folks at the Greensboro Coliseum. 700 of those meals were for THP clients and their families. Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out on a cold, yucky morning to help pack cars and deliver these meals all over the Triad. We are truly blessed.
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THP's #TBT Film Series
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JOIN US THURSDAY, December 18th @ 6:30 pm at Geeksboro for the screening of THE NORMAL HEART
This film adaptation of the play is the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial. The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Jonathan Groff, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch,Jim Parsons, Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, and Julia Roberts.
 | | The Normal Heart | official trailer (2014) |
The show will start at 6:30 pm and admission is FREE. The first 25 tickets will be available for pick up at Geeksboro one week in advance and the other 25 tickets are first come, first serve at the screening. We will host a short discussion after the screening about the relevance of HIV/AIDS in the film.
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World AIDS Day
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On December 1st, people around the world come together to remember the beautiful souls we've lost to HIV/AIDS.
In the past few weeks, we've lost three clients living with HIV/AIDS.
United in hope for a future when HIV/AIDS is defeated, we will gather for the 23rd Annual Winter Walk for AIDS this Sunday, December 7th, as reminder to our community that HIV/AIDS and others STDs continue to affect every demographic, particularly minorities and young people age 13-24.
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Food Drive at Just Be
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Our friends at Just Be are hosting a food drive for the THP Pantry!
Bring in 4 or 5 items of nonperishable food and receive 10% off our your purchase!
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Cooking with Ninevah
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Years ago, during a trip to Italy, I had an opportunity to enjoy Eggplant Parmesan as it was meant to be prepared. This remarkable dish was made of lightly sautéed slices of eggplant paired with thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese and accented with coarsely grated Italian Parmesan and a simple tomato sauce. This was not the Eggplant Parmesan I had always eaten with cutlet-like breaded slices of eggplant, smothered in thick, chewy cheese and swimming in tomato sauce. After experiencing Eggplant Parmesan as it was meant to be made, I knew I could not eat the "American version" of this dish again...and since that time, I have worked to create a recipe for Eggplant Parmesan that recreates the "food memory" of my dinner in Florence. After many attempts and lots of eggplant, cheese and tomato sauce, a combination of ingredients emerged that embraces the essence of that dinner years ago. No...it's not exactly the same. I choose to peel the eggplant to eliminate the slight bitterness of flavor found in the peel. Instead of sautéing, I marinate the eggplant slices in olive oil and herbs and then roast them in the oven to use less oil and eliminate some of the mess of sautéing repeated batches of eggplant. To create a richer flavor, I add a piece of Parmesan rind to the simmering tomato/herb sauce, but discard it before using the sauce in the casserole. But when this Eggplant Parmesan emerges from the oven and the aroma permeates my kitchen, I am once again transported to a warm, summer night in a small Italian cafe. Enjoy!
Note: This recipe was developed by Ninevah Wood Murray for use by Make This Yours Teaching Studio.
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