"Living with HIV"

We just watched an enormously inspirational video produced by HRSA - the US Health Resources & Services Administration, which administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program nationwide.

Many of our clients are through the Ryan White Program. We even have a Ryan White Medical Transportation program dedicated specifically to their appointment needs.

Check out the video below and learn more about its production by clicking here.

Moveable Feast & Baltimore PRIDE Weekend!

The weekend of June 18-19th is Baltimore Pride Weekend, and Moveable Feast will be actively participating. We invite you to come out and see the various events, and support us by stopping by our informational table.

In particular, we'll be at three events:

• Pride Parade - Saturday, June 18th 
• Pride Block Party - Saturday, June 18th 
• Druid Hill Park Festival - Sunday, June 19th

Add this weekend to your Google calendar:

Learn more about Baltimore Pride Weekend at www.BaltimorePride.org.

Donate Car & Booster Seats!

In addition to providing nutritious, healthy foods for our clients, we also run a transportation service for those who have no means of mobility.

Our programs - People on the Move and Ryan White Medical Transportation - take clients to their healthcare, counseling, and other social services appointments.

At times our drivers are faced with a situation where the client has small children who cannot be left at home alone for the duration of the appointment.

Moveable Feast is looking for donations of car and booster seats. Please contact Emily at esze@mfeast.org if you have one to donate, or just leave a comment on this blog post and we'll get back to you!

New car/booster seats preferred but not required. If donating used, we will check the documentation to be sure the car/booster seat is within safety regulations!

 

FUN FACT: Over the course of 2010, the People on the Move program transported our clients a total distance of 28,194 miles. The Ryan White Medical Transportation program traversed 32,843 miles over the year, helping a total of 196 clients. 

Ballrooms Boost HIV Outreach in Baltimore City

Great news from the Baltimore City Health Department. They've started to support underground ballroom dances, which are held for young African-American and Hispanic men who are at high risk for HIV infection.

The latest ballroom was held in November at the Sheraton in the Inner Harbor, and offered free HIV testing, as well as free condoms and a multitude of information about available public city services. 

The result? Of around 100 attendees who were screened for HIV, around 10% learned that they were infected. 

The CDC is working to increase outreach to high-risk populations, and Baltimore City will definitely benefit. A recent study by Johns Hopkins University has found that 45% of Baltimore City African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) are HIV-positive. As one public health official said, targeting high-risk populations gets you "more bang for your buck" when spending on HIV initiatives.

Treat HIV EARLY!

HIV affects 33 million people across the world - a staggering amount. Now, new research from NIH has definitively discovered that taking antiretroviral drugs immediately after diagnosis will reduce risk of transmission to your partner by an incredible 96%.

Said M. Sidibe, the Executive Director of the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, "This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward....it makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option."

Why is this so groundbreaking? HIV-positive people have even more reason to start treatment early - not only to treat their own disease, but to protect their partners.

Click below to watch the WBAL report!

Recovery through Gardening

Breast cancer recovery can be a long and difficult path - here at Moveable Feast, we see this firsthand every day. But there is good news - gardening can help increase patient stamina, mental well-being and physical recovery, according to new studies.

Getting down & dirty in the soil is therapeutic and relieves stress and anxiety. Furthermore, being outside in nature and getting enough sunlight and exercise helps to speed patient recovery. 

Nationwide, gardening therapy programs are cropping up everywhere for cancer patients.

Here at Moveable Feast, our gardens also help breast cancer patients recover - but in a different way. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables and use them in our nutritious meals and groceries. Join us for our first official Moveable Feast Garden Day on the morning of Friday, May 20th, 2011. Contact Sara McClean for more information! 

The Graying of HIV in Baltimore

What does that statement mean? The "graying" of HIV?! 

It means that among HIV-positive people in Baltimore, the percentage of those who are older is increasing. More and more adults with HIV are surviving into old age, which is a testament to the profound improvements in HIV/AIDS treatment.

Recently, Baltimore was host to The Graying of HIV Conference, which addressed the challenges and needs of an aging HIV population.

In Baltimore City, it is estimated that 30% of HIV-positive people are now over 50 years old. Because of successful medication regimens, it is expected that these people will survive into their 70s and 80s.

Even more interesting is the fact that there has been an increase in newly-infected adults over the age of 50. Why might this happen? There are many reasons:

• Older adults do not usually request STD tests
• Doctors do not typically advise their elderly patients to have an STD test, even though they are sexually active and possibly at-risk
• The symptoms of HIV often are similar to the symptoms of aging, so HIV can sometimes be missed without an actual test
• HIV/AIDS literature is geared toward younger generations, giving the impression it does not affect older adults.

The ultimate result is that many HIV-positive adults over the age of 50 are diagnosed with HIV at a later stage. This can lead to complications as these adults might have certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

Read All About It!

Our spring newsletter is here- sporting a noticeable facelift and featuring the diverse and inspiring volunteer work that keeps Moveable Feast going. It’s one of our best newsletters yet, so click here to peruse the articles and/or sign up here to have future newsletters delivered to your door. What do you think about the look? What kinds of articles do you want to see in the future? Email us your thoughts and suggestions: tblankenship@mfeast.org.

We send out a special thank you to MICA senior Sabrina Kogan for bringing her graphic design expertise to this project. To see other samples of her work, check out her website at SabrinaKogan.com.

Enjoy!

Delicious Culinary Luncheon

Last Friday, Moveable Feast staff and volunteers were treated to a delicious culinary lunch!

As part of our culinary skills training program, run by Chef Damon and Instructor Aaron, the culinary students must prepare, present, and serve a series of lunches. Everyone who partakes of the lunch fills out a quick survey and gives feedback about the food, helping the students improve their skills.

Here are some pictures from last Friday!

Some of the available food choices: minestrone soup, green beans, pasta, and sausage in homemade tomato marinade.

Serving up dessert!

Students give an explanation of the meal, in particular, how it was cooked, presented, and served.

Students serving food!

Delicious mozzarella and tomato salad.

Pot of homemade soup. Yummy!

Benefit for Moveable Feast!

Long-time supporters Bill Cassidy and Kevin Willner will be hosting a guest bartending night at Jay's on Read Street to benefit Moveable Feast!

Come drink and be merry on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 from 6:00PM to 10:00PM.

Check out the event flier below. Thanks Bill and Kevin for putting together this fundraiser!