Interfaith Aids Ministry Receives Grant

DANBURY — Thanks to the generosity of a local employee-run charity, Interfaith AIDS Ministry (IAM), a not-for-profit agency providing unconditional services to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, is expanding its Giving Pantry into a full nutritional service pantry.

The Giving Pantry is a nutritional program consisting of nonperishable food, fresh food, personal care items, and nutritional education for those living with HIV/AIDS and their families. IAM will be able to hire a nutritionist consult to provide individual customization of food units to people with HIV/AIDS medical needs.

With a $9,500 grant from Philip Morris Employee Fund (PMEF), IAM will be able to purchase fresh meats and vegetables twice a month and hire a five-hour-a-month nutritionist. Research has shown that eating a healthful diet can increase the body’s ability to fight off infections, aid in metabolizing medications, and lessen the impact of medication side effects. Further, people with HIV are now developing other chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and renal disease. This grant will enable the Giving Pantry to assist people living with HIV/AIDS to access the best nutrition, develop healthy eating habits, and learn to live healthier lives.

“The newer medications are helping people with AIDS to live longer; this program will help those people to also live healthier,” said Fred L. Hammond, executive director of the Interfaith AIDS Ministry. The PMEF grant in conjunction with community donations of canned goods provides a significant help in meeting the critical need of people living with AIDS in the Danbury region.

In the last year, Interfaith AIDS Ministry has given out more than 890 units of canned food goods and 877 units of fresh meats, vegetables, dairy, and fruit to 55 families living with HIV/AIDS.