Help Rotary Assemble AIDS Caregiver Kits

The Enumclaw Rotary Club has met its goal to raise $5,000 for help its international project in purchasing and assembling AIDS caregiver kits to be distributed by World Vision, a representative let us know this week.

Diane Anderson, director of international service, said World Vision would be matching those funds meaning the Club is looking to assemble 340 kits -- at a cost of $30 each -- during a community event on Saturday, June 11 at the Enumclaw Senior Activity Center.

It's a community event because volunteers are needed to help in the kit assembly!

According to a Rotary press release, the caregiver kits are strong cases filled with anti-diarrheal medicine, batteries and flashlight, acetaminophen, cotton balls, washcloths, notebook and pen, latex gloves, petroleum jelly, soap, and, what touches the volunteer caregiver the most, a personal note thanking them for their work.

This World Vision project supports the volunteer caregivers who are already trying to care for the nearly 40 million people currently infected with HIV with very few tools.

Nearly 3 million people die as a result of AIDS each year with a total of 25 million people dying since it was first identified in the 1980s. Today, one in every eight people contracting HIV is a child under age 15. There have been some improvements in preventing infection and conversion to AIDS, but many of the victims are in very poor areas with little or no health care. The village volunteer may be one of the few care providers available.

The Rotary Club has taken part in this effort over the last three years. The project has support and involvement from local churches, Applebees, Taco Time, White River High School and Mutual of Enumclaw.

If you'd like to volunteer, the kit assembly takes place Saturday, June 11 beginning at 1 p.m. at the .

To join the effort or for information, contact the Enumclaw Rotary Club by visiting www.enumclawrotary.com and click on the International Services link on the left side of the homepage; or contact Nancy Baer at 360-825-4484.