Grab a Meal to Fight HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS can affect anyone. Gay or straight. Male or female. Old or young. In fact, according to Cheryl Oliver, executive director of Saint Louis Effort for AIDS, 10 percent of those they serve are between the ages of 10 and 19.

You and your family can join the battle to stop this disease in its tracks simply by grabbing a meal at your favorite dining spot. More than 140 restaurants in the area are joining EFA and honorary chair Ozzie Smith for the 17th annual Dining Out For Life on Thursday, April 29. Participating restaurants will donate 25 percent or more of the day’s proceeds to the cause.

Funding to fight HIV/AIDS continues to be needed in the region. “There is a resurgence of HIV among youth, gay men, women and ethnic minorities," said Oliver via e-mail, "and we appreciate any opportunity to increase awareness and eliminate the misperception that the epidemic is over.  HIV is not curable, but is it treatable.  More important is the fact that it is preventable, and we all have the responsibility of stopping the spread of this disease.”

Whether you want to dine out for lunch, breakfast or dinner, you can find a complete list of participating restaurants – many of them family-friendly – by visiting the Dining Out for Life section on EFA’s Web site. Your meal will go a long way in helping EFA serve those in need right here in St. Louis – since 1990, more than $2 million has been raised through the event.

“Funds raised from Dining Out enable EFA to provide free education, confidential testing and comprehensive support services for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS,” remarked Oliver. “The funding from DOFL is a major source of support for the agency.”

Skip a night of cooking and enjoy a great meal while supporting a great cause. What could be better than that?

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting