Monthly Musings from THP's Executive Director  


 

Addison Ore, Executive Director
"Giving is a verb." ~ Addison Ore

Several weeks ago at a retreat for THP's Development staff, we had what Oprah would call an "aha" moment.

We were talking about how to get more folks to register to have a Dining for Friends party when we realized that we might have unintentionally intimidated people from hosting by putting so much focus on our BIG parties like the Community Party. We LOVE our big parties and they account for a great percentage of our goal for Dining for Friends but the truth is that the heart of Dining for Friends is simply friends gathering to support people in our community living with HIV/AIDS.

This can be done in groups of two or more and doesn't necessarily require a ton of work on the host's part.

Dining for Friends began 26 years ago with the concept of friends feeding friends to raise funds for Triad Health Project. Last year, our smallest party raised a little over a hundred dollars and our largest party raised over $16,000. Clearly there is lots of middle room to hold an event that fits in well with your regular schedule.   

That's where the "ing" comes in. Just think of something you enjoy doing every month, put an "ing" after it, and you've got yourself a potential DFF party.

Book Club? Reading for Friends
Golf? Golfing for Friends
Church choir? Singing for Friends

You've got the hang of it and the possibilities are endless. Don't make it too hard on yourself. Consider turning a regular monthly outing or event into a Dining for Friends party. 

The success of Dining for Friends each year is critical to THP's capacity to continue to meet the needs of our clients but it's not just about money - awareness raising is also a key component of this event. We need more people to know the facts about HIV infection. Knowledge is power, knowledge is safety, and knowledge is the only way we'll ever get to zero new infections.

Please consider giving in new and creative ways during this Dining for Friends season.

Thanking is a verb, too.

Heartfelt thanks,


 

Save the Dates for these DFF Parties Open to Everyone!

 


Go to www.diningforfriends.com  and www.ribbonsandrosesforthp.com for more information. 

Cooking with Ninevah

The past week of snow put me in the mood to make soup and I decided to make butternut squash bisque, using a recipe I developed more than 2 years ago.  As I read through the ingredients and directions from that recipe, my "kitchen scientist" side kicked in, and I was inspired to revise the ingredients to make the bisque a bit more savory, and less sweet. The addition of freshly made seasoned croutons makes this a delicious...and "tummy-warming" meal.


Butternut Squash Bisque with Mustard-Dill Croutons 

(The ingredients listed allow you to choose to make the bisque vegan, if desired, but either way, the bisque is gluten free.)


Ingredients
1 - 1.5 pound butternut squash, roasted
1 tablespoon olive oil
� teaspoon dried, crushed rosemary
� teaspoon fine sea salt
� teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoon butter or 1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 cup water
� teaspoon cumin seeds
� teaspoon white pepper
pinch of ground red pepper (less than 1/8 tsp), optional
2 tablespoon Tahini paste
3 tablespoons peanut butter
additional salt to taste
Mustard-Dill Croutons and pumpkin seeds for garnish, if desired

Directions
To roast, wash and dry the butternut squash then cut it in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp and brush the inside of the squash with a mixture of 1 tablespoon olive oil, � teaspoon dried, crushed rosemary, � teaspoon each fine sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper. Place the squash outer-skin side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes, or until the inner flesh of the squash can be easily pierced with a fork. Let the squash cool to touch. After squash has cooled, use a spoon to scrape the roasted, inner flesh of squash from the outer peel.

Peel, wash and finely chop the shallot. Heat the butter or olive oil in a 2 quart (or larger) Dutch oven. Add the chopped shallot and saut� until soft.
To make the bisque, mix the roasted squash with the saut�ed shallots, and then stir in the cumin seeds, white pepper and red pepper, if desired. Gently pour in the vegetable broth and the water, and cook uncovered to bring the squash mixture to a gentle boil. After the mixture comes to a boil, cover the pan and allow the mixture to simmer for approximately 15 minutes, or until the squash is quite soft and easily mashed with a wooden spoon. Remove the pan from heat, and puree the squash mixture in small batches in a covered blender, until the mixture is smooth.

Return the pureed mixture to the saucepan and stir in the Tahini paste and peanut butter. Taste the bisque to determine if additional salt is needed, and if so, add the salt in 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon increments to achieve the desired flavor.

I always think soup is better when the flavors are allowed to "blend" for a day before eating...so if you choose to wait, remove the bisque from heat and allow it to cool uncovered, at room temperature, then refrigerate in a covered container. When ready to serve, reheat the bisque in a 2-quart saucepan, adding milk 1 tablespoon at a time to thin the bisque to desired consistency. Heat the bisque just until it bubbles, stirring frequently. Serve immediately, with Mustard-Dill Croutons and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Many thanks to our friend, Ninevah Murray, for her recipe. For more recipes and information on her cooking classes, go to www.makethisyoursnc.com 

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GSO Restaurant Community Food Drive
When our Case Management Intern, Adrienne Mages, posted on her FB page that the THP Food pantry was running low, David Thompson and Cass Price challenged the Greensboro restaurant community to step up. Today, they dropped off over $1,200 worth of groceries to feed our clients.
We are feeling the love - thank you!



Ninevah Cooks for Women's Group
Every Wednesday, a group meets for women who are HIV positive to discuss their ongoing struggles and offer support to one another.  Topics of conversation often include stigma, health, and self-care. 

At one of the the meetings last month, we invited Ninevah Murray to treat the Women's Group with one of her cooking classes at Higher Ground. Not only did she teach all the ladies a healthier chili recipe, everyone got to eat her delicious chili and homemade bread. Yummmm!

Ninevah was incredibly thoughtful to provide a bag of groceries with all of the chili ingredients for everyone to make at home, including a loaf of handmade bread, the cooked meat and all of the seasonings. Everyone learned something new and we are so appreciative of the time and knowledge she brought to the group.
Thanks, Ninevah!
Mark's Mentionings
Mark Cassity, Director of Higher Ground
Years ago, we were minding my neighbor's dog, Homer, when he had what amounted to a stroke during the night. Homer was about 140 years old so no big surprises, and I carried him out to the yard so he could use the facilities before I took him to the vet. He made no complaint. He didn't show signs of pain or even surprise; he simply stumbled about in ever-tightening circles, diving his head under one leg and then falling over before I would right him and he could try it again. Homer did not cry out that anything had gone terribly wrong with the world but rather simply carried on with what the world gave him that day. His eyes suggested, I suppose this is what today is like. At least every time I fall over I get to see the sky. And the grass smells so sweet. It was one of the noblest things I've ever seen.

Homer held up to me the times I've caught the flu or my car wouldn't start or I got a crick in my neck or bleach spilled onto my favorite sweater and I've wanted the world to stop. I somehow think this just isn't right, it's not correct, something must be done to set the universe back in proper order because this-won't-do! With Homer's help, I hear God reminding me that nothing's gone wrong in the least. Tuck and roll. Why not smell the good grass I made for you? What if you needed help to use the facilities one day? Growing old, getting sick, these are merely parts of life, too; and when you finally fall down, perhaps you will notice the sky like you used to. Perhaps someone will come by and pick you up and carry you home.
National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) is an annual, nationwide observance that sheds light on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Every year on March 10, and throughout the month of March, federal, national, and community organizations come together to offer support and hope, reduce stigma, share information, and empower women and girls to learn the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. This year marks the 10th observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Today, about one in four people living with HIV in the United States are women 13 or older. Only about half of women living with HIV are getting care, and only four in 10 of them have the virus under control. Women face unique HIV risks and challenges that can prevent them from getting needed care and treatment. Addressing these issues remains critical to achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation.


 While there are many milestones in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment, it is important to recognize that the disease affects women all across the country. Some women are living with HIV while working and taking care of families. Other women are caregivers to family members or friends with HIV/AIDS. During National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we invite everyone to help reduce stigma.


 Click here for more information

This Week is National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS


The purpose of the 2015 National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is to bring national attention to the AIDS epidemic in the United States and the extraordinary role faith communities can and are playing in AIDS prevention, education, service and advocacy.

The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS will promote the continuous national mobilization and education of faith communities to take an even greater role in the implementation of AIDS education and services within their local communities and across the nation.
Client Needs
Do you have some living room furniture, a futon, pots and pans, or a dining set that you've been holding onto to give away for the right reason?

We have a client that is moving into her own apartment and needs help with these items. Please contact Shana if you are able to help. Thanks!

                           

                                                               Greensboro                                                                          High Point

                                                         801 Summit Avenue                                                         620 English Road

                                                            P.O. Box 5716                                                                     P.O. Box 616

                                                    Greensboro, NC 27435                                                     High Point, NC 27262

                                                           (336) 275-1654                                                                (336) 884-4116

                                                                                               

                                                                                               www.triadhealthproject.com