Today I had the chance to speak to a young mother who stopped by the Utah AIDS Foundation. She has been a client of ours for many years and has three small children. The economy has her husband's factory at a standstill, and money is tight. As she told me about her children, she began to cry. They have just recently started school, and do not have proper winter clothing and boots. She worries that the other children will tease them, and more importantly that they will not be protected from the cold winter weather.

HIV impacts this entire family. And it’s all too common. Without assistance, the average monthly cost of living with HIV is more than $1,200. All of the families that participate in the Utah AIDS Foundation Season’s Givings Red Ribbon Tree live below the federal poverty level. For some, that means an income of less than $11,000 per year. These are the people who have the hardest time during the holidays, and the people you help when you join our annual Season's Givings program.

For more than 15 years, generous donors like you have been supporting families by providing basic holiday needs.  You have helped provide food baskets for families to make a holiday meal. You have given personal care stockings with everyday necessity items such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. You have adopted families from our Red Ribbon tree, providing basic items such as socks, underwear, shoes or a coat to help them through the winter months.

Your generous support has made such a difference in the past.  And now, we ask you again to join us in making this holiday season something special for those less fortunate.

With HIV infection rates up significantly this year and our economy in the state that it is, we have more families accessing our services than ever. For these people, your support is critical. Please make a donation today.