LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Safe:Building Community: One Condom at a Time |
P.T. Barnum lived by a simple philosophy "build it one tiny brick at a time." The CAMPsafe program has a similar philosophy that we can build community-one condom at a time.
During the past two months, the CAMPsafe program has held two condom-stuffing events to prepare safer sex packets for the summer of 2002. These safer sex packets consist of one condom and a package of lube enclosed in a cardboard carrier. Our hope of distributing these packets to the community is to make them readily available for gay/bisexual men when they find themselves in the heat of the moment. CAMPsafe takes pride in keeping our community safe while realizing many men who come to Rehoboth are here to have fun. The condom stuffing events brought many people from the community together for a common cause. Each event brought over 20 men and women who stayed from one to three hours to help stuff condoms. During these "wrap" sessions, they got to meet new people in the community, talk about safer sex and have a good time. During the last event over 5,000 condom packets were prepared for the many bars, beach houses, guesthouses and nightclubs that receive these packets. The CAMPsafe program relies on community members to become an active part in the sexual health of the men who come to Rehoboth Beach. Whether it is picking up condoms for beach houses, giving them to a friend, or donating time to wrap some condoms-every little bit makes a difference. Without support from the community, the CAMPsafe program would not be able to continue doing the work it does today. CAMPsafe especially owes many thanks to our condom kings! These two men (John Batchelor and Randy Brammer) have stuffed and wrapped more than 6,000 packets during our last two seasons. A special thanks goes to Dos Locos for sponsoring the last stuffing event by providing a great dinner. They sure know how to spice things up! Dos Locos is a great place to go and an awesome supporter of the CAMPsafe program. Our average distribution of condoms is usually 10,000 to 13,000 for a year. This year that will increase! The CAMPsafe program has been awarded a mini-grant through the Department of Public Health to provide safer sex packets to the many bars in Rehoboth and Dewey that cater to a young college crowd where there might be a small population of gay men. This will allow us outreach to the many seasonal workers and college students who come to this area who may not know where to get condoms or find out information about sexual health and HIV Testing and Counseling. CAMPsafe has a lot of work to do to get the message out about safer sex and condom usage. Condoms used with water-based lube are the surest way to protect you or your partner against HIV infection. CAMPsafe and its community liaisons are here to make sure that men in the area are playing safe. If you would like to get involved with our wrapping session or help distribute condoms, call CAMPsafe staff at 302-227-5620. National HIV Testing/Counseling Day, June 27 In recognition of National Testing Day (June 27), CAMPsafe is urging sexually active men and women to be tested at its counseling site at CAMP Rehoboth. CAMPsafe staff will be available at 39 Baltimore Avenue between the hours of 5-9 p.m. for walk-in testing and counseling. CAMPsafe uses Ora-Sure testing, which is a non-blood taking procedure. A swab is placed between your lower cheek and gum to obtain a sample, which is tested for HIV. Results come back in two weeks. Individuals who are tested are eligible for some special give-away items, such as free ice cream coupons provided by Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream of Rehoboth Beach. For more information about HIV Counseling and Testing or National HIV Testing Day, please call 227-5620. CAMPsafe Safer Sex Contest CAMPsafe Question #2 What are the ways in which HIV can be transmitted? Please send your answers, along with your name, mailing address and phone number to: CAMPsafe Contest, 39 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 07, June 14, 2002. |