WORLD AIDS DAY

All Holy Names Schools in North America participated
in activities to mark World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007.

Click here to participate in the prayer vigil each day of December 2007.

"Everyone should feel involved in the fight against AIDS."
--Pope John Paul II

SEE MORE PHOTOS

CHRISTMAS DRIVE

In conjunction with our month marking HIV/AIDS awareness, we will center our Christmas Drive actions around an agency in San Francisco serving women and children who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS:

RITA DE CASCIA

A program of Catholic Charities, San Francisco

Founded in 1989, the Rita de Cascia Program is one of the oldest housing programs in the U.S. serving homeless families living with HIV. Rita de Cascia offers specialized services for low-income, homeless single mothers and their infected and affected children providing an essential function in the community by addressing the needs of a traditionally underserved population. Comprehensive services are designed to provide for the complex medical, social and emotional needs of the families. The family recreation program provides a range of activities that allow the children the opportunity to participate in enriched activities that and field trips designed to foster intellectual and emotional growth. Weekly art therapy based support groups for children living with HIV promote peer-based support and assist in coping with issues of grief and loss. The ability to participate in a supportive community alleviates the isolation experienced by people living with HIV.

A member of the staff of Rita de Cascia will come to speak to HNHS students on Thursday, December 6 about the needs of the organization around Christmas time. 

Toiletries

Rita de Cascia has identified certain toiletries as needed during the holiday season.  Campus Ministry is encouraging students to purchase these items with money of their own to donate toward the program.  We will only collect the following items:

• 12-oz or greater bottles of hair shampoo
• 12-oz or greater bottles of hair conditioner
• 12-oz or greater bottles of body wash

These items will begin to be collected on December 6 and continue to be collected through December 13.  They will be delivered to the agency in San Francisco on December 14.

Gift Cards

The organization is collecting $50 gift cards to Target for the mothers in the program to be able to purchase gifts for their children at Christmas.  If your family would like to contribute a gift card or cash to this endeavor, please contact the Business Office at HNHS to make a donation toward the Christmas drive.