Saddened By The Loss of Jim Knox

We here at CARES were all saddened to learn that one of our founding members, and active board member, Jim Knox, passed away yesterday. We do not yet have the details for a memorial service, but we will post it when we do. Jim was involved with CARES since the beginning, and we just celebrated our 25th anniversary. Jim’s tireless dedication to CARES, The KGLRC, and the Barn Theater, will be a great loss. His work will be leaving an enormous community legacy that we are all thankful for. His optimism, support and pure joy for life will be missed.

National HIV Testing Day 6/27/2011

Monday, June 27th is the 16th observance of  National HIV Testing Day.  CARES would like to encourage individuals to learn their HIV status by visiting the following test sites for free, confidential 20-minute HIV testing on the following dates during the month of June:

In Kalamazoo and Battle Creek:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at CARES, 629 Pioneer St., Kalamazoo
• 1st Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave., Kalamazoo
• 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Vine Neighborhood Association, 511 W. Vine, Kalamazoo
• 3rd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at S.H.A.R.E. Center, 120 Grove St., Battle  Creek
• 4th Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Ministry with Community, 440 N. Church St., Kalamazoo

Participating partners in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek include the Edison Neighborhood Association, the Vine Neighborhood Association, the S.H.A.R.E. Center and Ministry with Community.

In Benton Harbor:

• Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for walk-ins, or by appointment from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at CARES, 185 E. Main St., Suite 604, Benton Harbor
• National Testing Day – Monday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Benton Harbor Street Ministry, 200 E. Empire Avenue in Benton Harbor

Participating partners in Benton Harbor’s National HIV Testing Day event include the Berrien County Health Department, Lakeland Health Specialties, United Way of Southwest Michigan, Bethel Christian Restoration Center, Benton Harbor Street Ministry, The OutCenter, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency and community volunteers.  This event will also offer colon cancer screening kits, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure screenings.

For more information, please call CARES at 269-381-2437 (Kalamazoo) or 269-927-2437 (Benton Harbor.)

Three Cups of Tea or Three Glasses of Wine?

You can have “Three Cups of Tea” with us on Thursday, April 28th at Dining Out For Life and rest assured that the proceeds are directly donated to CARES! Or how about three glasses of wine at The Wine Loft? Join me and enjoy the company of others who share in your wish to support HIV/AIDS work in Southwest Michigan!

What I enjoy most about Dining Out For life is the community support.  Sometimes in the world of non-profits and deficit budgets and flat funding I feel like we’re out here doing the work by ourselves.  Then we have DOFL and when I welcome people to the restaurant and they say, “yes, we know, that’s why we’re here” I could cry!  I forget that there are MANY people out there who are affected by HIV and support our work in so many ways.  Thank you from all of us infected/affected and fighting the stigma a ripple at a time.