| My name is Howard and I am not alone.
- Howard Orlick, with GMHC since 1996.
Last year, 63% of our clients identified themselves as gay,
lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
In 1995 my partner Peter was extremely sick — he
had dementia and didn't know where he was. I was having a very difficult time
caring for him so I came to GMHC for its caregivers support group. There I
learned that sometimes our partners need to know that it's OK to let go, that
we'll be OK, that we'll survive and will be able to go on.
So I went home, and I said, 'you know, Peter, it's OK to let go, I will be
OK. I'm going to make it.' And he died the next morning.
After Peter was gone I really thought I was the only person with HIV who
was going through what I was going through. I was ill, not physically, but
emotionally. I went on disability and was completely lost. I didn't know how
to spend my time. I was floundering.
I started using GMHC's Meals Program, not so much for the meals (though
they're great), but for the socialization. A couple of days a week I had
people to be with, that understood what I was going through, who had also
lost loved ones. I realized that I was not alone. GMHC helped me find my
way, and gave me a place to learn what was really important to me.
In the beginning all I did was take. Now I try and give a little back.
I do volunteer work for GMHC. I go into different areas, mainly schools,
and talk about living with HIV and AIDS. One time a girl raised her hand
in the middle of my presentation and asked, 'Isn't this really hard for
you to do?' And I said, 'Yeah, it's very difficult to stand up here and
say I'm a gay man with AIDS.'
'But i'm doing it for you. If I can prevent one of you from becoming
infected, or convince one of you to get tested, or help one of you who
has tested positive to get treatment — then my job is successful.'
The light bulb went off in her head and she just got it. And it was the
most incredible experience of my life.
GMHC sustains and enhances the quality of life
of people living with HIV and aids
Like Howard, many of our clients receive multiple benefits from the
extraordinary array of services that GMHC provides, benefits that sustain
and enhance the quality of their lives. In addition to the Meals Program,
which serves as the cornerstone of the 12th floor (our busiest client-use
floor), clients can access free services — like theatre tickets,
therapeutic massage, and job training — that increase and enhance
their interaction not only with others, but with the greater community
as well. The fellowship developed between clients not only helps alleviate
feelings of isolation, it also acts as an informal resource directory to
other services in the agency. Clients may tell each other, for example,
about one of our many support groups, like our visually-impaired group,
caregivers group, or the recently- diagnosed group. Many of our clients
desire an opportunity to give back to the community. Through the Terry K.
Watanabe Volunteer and Work Center, a clearinghouse of training and volunteer
opportunities, clients can become a part of the GMHC Speakers Bureau, work
on the GMHC Hotline, train to be a buddy, or even volunteer to help with
AIDS Walk. GMHC places a paramount value on the quality of life of our
clients. We work diligently to provide for their physical and emotional
needs. We want our clients to know that they are not alone, that there
is hope, and that they will always have a respectful, safe, and supportive
place to turn.
GMHC at-a-glance
GMHC served over 15,000 New Yorkers in Fiscal Year 2003, an almost 10%
increase from the previous year.
GMHC launched the training and transition-to-work component of the Terry K.
Watanabe Volunteer and Work Center which includes opportunities for further
education, vocational training, computer skill application, college
scholarships, and on- and off-site internships.
GMHC responded to poverty, hunger and isolation through our successful
meals program. The Peter Krueger Dining Room continued to operate above
capacity — providing clients and families with over 80,000 nutritious
meals last year, as well as essential social support.
For many of our clients, GMHC provides the only hot meal of their day.
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© 2004 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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