VAN NUYS : ‘Giving Tree’ to Benefit HIV Patients
To offer a little holiday cheer to San Fernando Valley residents infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and others affected by it, the Valley HIV/AIDS Center will team up with a Thrifty Drug Store in Van Nuys for a two-part project.
A Christmas tree, adorned with cards imprinted with the names of children who are HIV-positive or have parents who are HIV-positive, will be set up at the Thrifty store.
Patrons will be asked to pick one of the cards and buy a gift for the child.
“The parents have spent so much money on medication that there’s not enough left to buy toys for the kids,” said Ana Vargas, a representative of the center.
Case managers who work directly with families affected by the virus are gathering names of children for inclusion on what Vargas called the “giving tree.”
The second part of the project is a gift-wrapping booth that will be set up the last week before Christmas.
Valley Center volunteers will gift-wrap presents at the store for a $4 donation to benefit the center.
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