On December 1, 2012 (World AIDS Day), APLA will initiate a massive countywide food drive to secure donations of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items for persons living with HIV/AIDS. 

Proper nutrition is so important to the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS.  But many thousands of APLA clients struggle to manage a complicated and chronic disease while facing desperate poverty and hunger that even the most hopeful economic recovery will not improve.   The Vance North Necessities of Life Program (NOLP) operates 9 food pantries across Los Angeles County (Santa Monica, Lancaster, North Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, South LA, Long Beach, Pomona, Claremont and Pasadena), where people with HIV/AIDS are able to bring home the equivalent of four bags of groceries every single week at no charge.

Donations collected at the food drive will help supplement the food provided to the clients who visit the food pantries every week.

The following items are being requested for the food drive:

• Whole grain cereal
• Canned meats
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Chicken or vegetable stock
• Peanut butter
• Cooking oils
• Non perishable 100% juices
• Evaporated milk
• Coffee and teas
• Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, shaving cream, shampoo, mouthwash, feminine hygiene products, etc.)

You can download this list here.

Items can be purchased and dropped off at the following locations from 10AM-4PM on Saturday, December 1st:

• KOREATOWN: APLA David Geffen Center, 611 S. Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles 90005 [map]
• BALDWIN HILLS: APLA Health & Wellness Center, 3743 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles  90016  [map]
• WEST HOLLYWOOD: Revolver Video Bar, 8851 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood  90069 [map]
• NORTH HOLLYWOOD:  APLA Necessities of Life Program Warehouse, 7336 Bellaire Ave., North Hollywood  91605 [map]
• PASADENA: Prudential California Realty Office, 540 South Lake Ave., Pasadena  91101 [map]  Parking is available behind the building off California or Granite; donations can be dropped off anytime from November 26-December 1.
• UCLA MEDICAL CENTER: 200 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles  90095 [map]

In addition, we are thrilled to be working with the Pavilions West Hollywood - 8969 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood 90069 [map]. From November 14-December 25, Pavilions will be selling bags of groceries for $10 that will then be donated to APLA. 

Are you interested in helping out with the food drive?  If so, send an email here.

Or, if you aren't able to purchase groceries but would like to make a donation to our food pantry program or to purchase a Thanksgiving dinner for an APLA client, please click here.

If you plan on participating in this year’s World AIDS Day Food Drive, please help us spread the word through social media!

If you are volunteering, dropping off food, coordinating your own food drive, or participating in any way, we want to hear about it, and we want your friends to know that you’re making a difference in the lives of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS! Please update your status, take pictures, tag APLA, and use the hashtags #APLAfooddrive and #WAD2012.

Find us on Facebook at @aidsprojectla. Tag us on Twitter at @aplatweets. Tag our new Instagram account at @aidsprojectlosangeles.

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