Who we are:
First started in October 1997 and
chartered in January 1998 by Richard and Barbara Crawford. Being
foster parents for over 25 years and specializing in drug addicted and
HIV/AIDS children for the last fourteen years they felt a need to address
the needs of the children of this disease. KIDS
FIGHTING AIDS, INC. started with a handful of volunteers and has expanded
twenty full time and many part time volunteers to help with special
projects. We are all volunteers and use private donations to bring
smiles to this special group of children we serve. There
is no other agency at this time to care the needs of HIV/AIDS children in
Tennessee. In 1999 more than 2.6 million died and 5.6 million newly
infected joined the ranks of this deadly disease. While the rate is
going down in newborns to the mothers who have HIV/AIDS, those not knowing
of their status and not under doctors' care still produce children
infected with HIV. The children are the true victims of the disease,
having never made any choices in life. Did
you know that there are twenty-four treated HIV/AIDS children, and fifty
babies under observation screening at the Vanderbilt Pediatric Infectious
Disease Clinic, Nashville? We serve primarily the Clinic and also
help the adult communities' children from time to time, as
requested. It is difficult to live with the disease as an adult and
most children are overwhelmed or devastated by the disease. It is a
disease that entails many tests, terrible medicines with many side
effects, and it attacks all the parts and organs of the body. There
is much discomfort and many times much pain. Each hospitalization
brings anxiety over immortality for the most of the advanced cases in
children. We at KIDS
FIGHTING AIDS, INC. are trying to implement new ways to bring them the
best quality of life possible. Life is short enough for adults, and
life hasn't been fair to the children of this disease. This year we
have expanded our programs to include pizza parties on holiday months,
birthday gifts and monies for the parents' food during a child's hospital
stay. We have always provided winter items, treasure box treats for
clinic visits, and for all holidays, including Christmas gifts. We
supply over the counter medicines not covered by TennCare and
Insurances. Medicines include Tylenol, Motrin, cough syrups, rubber
gloves, ear drops and etc. Medical items are distributed through the
Vanderbilt Infectious Disease Clinic. We
also provide holiday treats to all children at Vanderbilt Hospital
and Maury Regional Hospital, Columbia. They do not have to be
infected to receive the holiday treats. According
to the Center for Disease Control by May 31, 2000 there was a total of
5,797 HIV and 4,148 AIDS cases in Tennessee. That does not include
the 778 persons with HIV and 787 persons with AIDS from other states
reported in Tennessee because they have been tested, diagnosed and/or
treated in a Tennessee facility. Of these numbers 470 are HIV and
144 are AIDS in the 0-19 years of age. These are the numbers we are
concerned with. We are
constantly striving to enrich the quality of life for these
children. We do not provide luxuries, only necessities for the
children. We are all volunteers with no paid staff at this
time. Our time is spent in giving the kids the opportunity to
function as others more fortunate than they. How
can you help? We need
caring, smiling folks interested in helping us make the children
happy. If you, or someone you know, would like more information
please Contact us at 931/840-3533 or fax 931/381-8913. We
are always looking for fundraisers and opportunities to help educate the
general public about HIV/AIDS from the pediatric aspect. We accept
small items to be used for the children in the hospital and monetary
donations of any size to use for the age groups missed. We
have open meetings on the third Tuesday of every month and they are open
to the public. We invite all interested persons to attend. We
are a tax-exempt, non profit agency. For more information contact us
at: KIDS FIGHTING AIDS, INC., 317 West 8th Street, Columbia,
TN 38401
For more information
contact us at: KIDS FIGHTING AIDS, INC, 317 West 8th Street,
Columbia, TN 38401 |