LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Getting SHARP About HIV |
by Scott Steedman |
I never cease to be amazed by how fast our community is growing. With the addition of two mega-supermarkets and the continued development of Route 1, I find myself feeling like I am really living in a metropolitan area and not that sleepy little off-season town I once knew. I couldnt believe I actually had to make reservations to get a table at my favorite restaurant in March! As our area continues to expand, so does the need to provide resources and services for our growing habitat. The Sharp Center, located adjacent to the SCAC office, is a resource center dedicated to serving the citizens of Sussex County. The center offers information, educational outreach, and referrals on HIV/AIDS related topics in hopes of raising awareness and better serving the members of our community that are living with HIV. Since my last submission to Letters, we have some wonderful new additions to the SHARP Center. We have ordered over a hundred new resources for the library including new bookshelves to house the items. To date, we offer over 200 book titles, 40 videotape presentations, and a wide variety of educational brochures and curriculum guides. A donated computer station has been set-up, so visitors can have additional access to the software available in the center. Internet training continues to be offered at the SHARP Center on the second Thursday of the month from 10 a.m.- noon, with a repeat session from 1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. Likewise, on-line access to the latest information on HIV/AIDS is available daily from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 9 a.m until noon. Counseling and testing for HIV using the Orasure oral test is now available by appointment in the SHARP Center, with our regular drop-in testing continuing at SCAC every Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m. If you would like to schedule an appointment for the anonymous HIV testing, you can do so by calling 644-1094. We hope to expand the hours of operation in the coming months, so there is a need for volunteers to help cover the additional hours. Likewise, we are seeking individuals to serve as client advocates to aid our clients that are experiencing difficulties accessing or receiving services. We are also taking nominations for an Advisory Board that will help guide our expansion and overall operations. If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities, please contact me at 644-1094. We are excited about the continuing development of the SHARP Center and hope you will come by to see what we have to offer. Peace be with you! Scott Steedman is Director of the SHARP Center, a program of the Sussex County AIDS Committee. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 3, April 9, 1999 |