wfn.org | TCN: Catholic association uses piggy banks to raise money for AIDS during recession

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>2991 Edition

>June 22~28, 2009

Catholic association uses piggy banks to raise money for AIDS  during recession

>Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

Lourdes Association, a Catholic orphanage that became an AIDS  center in 1997,

recently unveiled “Little Lourdes Piggy Bank” in hopes  that more people can get

>involved in reaching out to AIDS patients.

Government statistics reveal there are 17,421 reported cases of  AIDS in Taiwan

and about 86.49% of patients survive despite contracting the  disease. These

statistics infer that AIDS has become a manageable illness in  recent years, but

caregivers warn that prevention and awareness programs must  continue and more

resources are needed to help patients deal with physical,  emotional, and social

implications of carrying AIDS throughout their lives. People with  AIDS are still

stigmatized in Taiwan by their own families or by society at  large.

According to the association, the idea of creating a piggy bank  was born after the

recent financial crisis when it saw its revenue plummet. The  association stated that

as of May 2009, it had a deficit exceeding $4 million NTD and it  hoped that this

piggy bank project would allow more people to donate small sums of  money so that

a little bit of money by many could amount to a lot of financial  donations to support

>AIDS programs .

The association said that December 1st is World AIDS Day and those  who order

piggy banks now will be reminded at the end of the year to empty  their piggy banks

and donate the coins inside to the association. The donations  collected will go

toward funding programs that take care of AIDS patients in Taiwan  so that these

>people can live normal lives.

Though one dollar may seem insignificant, a bunch of one dollar  coins may go a

long way in helping many AIDS patients. Lourdes Association will  begin promoting

“Little Lourdes Piggy Bank” events beginning this month.  It hopes to attract more

people to donate resources to care for those afflicted with AIDS.  Individuals,

organizations, and schools are welcome to contact the association  and order piggy

>banks by calling 02-23711406 or 04-22295550.

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