On July 25, HIV West Yellowhead is asking you to Dine 4 Life.
That night, at nine participating restaurants in town, servers will donate a portion of their tips to HIV West Yellowhead and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, in support of HIV outreach and support, both in the West Yellowhead region and in communities in Africa, where the Stephen Lewis Foundation provides support to women, orphaned children, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS.
“The main goal is to get some community participation,” said Stephannie Veenbaas, HIV West Yellowhead’s summer programmer.
“It gets people talking about it and it helps raise the awareness. We’ve come really far in the world with where we are with HIV, just with knowledge of what it is, and I think the more we can get it out there and the more people can understand what it is, the better.”
This is Dine 4 Life’s 10th year, although it’s undergone a number of reincarnations since it began in 2005.
When it was started by Meghan Ward and Paul Zizka it was called The Mountain Movement. The idea was to encourage people to think beyond their daily lives to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
In 2005, Ward and Zizka partnered with the Stephen Lewis Foundation and started the fundraising campaign. From there, it didn’t take long before the pair developed partnerships with regional HIV services, including HIV West Yellowhead, which eventually took over the organization of the annual event, changing its name to Servers Against AIDS Day and most recently Dine 4 Life.
“It’s a really cool way to reduce the stigma,” said Veenbaas, who worked with an HIV organization in Uganda last year. “I think it’s important that we give people living with the disease a gateway back into the community.
“HIV might not affect your everyday life, but it’s something that could easily happen to anyone. It’s not just at risk people who are living with HIV, it’s regular everyday people, some who were born with it, some who contracted it via their line of work.
“We’ve come to a point where people are able to live longer, healthier lives with HIV, thanks to research, donations and the support of people around the world—it truly is no longer the death sentence that it was 30 years ago.”
Since HIV West Yellowhead took over the fundraiser, Jasper Pizza Place has generated the most donations each year.
“They’re our superstars,” said Veenbaas, challenging the other participating restaurants to give JPP a run for its money.
This year, there are nine restaurants taking part: Olive Bistro and Lounge, Downstream Lounge, Cassio’s, Syrah’s, Coco’s Cafe, D’ed Dog, Famoso, Jasper Brewing Co., and JPP.
Veenbaas encourages everyone to head out to one of the participating restaurants July 25 to help HIV West Yellowhead and the Stephen Lewis Foundation make some much needed cash, so they can continue providing support to those who need it most.
“Come out, have fun and eat good food,” said Veenbaas.
Nicole Veerman
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