There are many ways that you can help the children impacted by this devastating pandemic. Here are just a few:

• Recognize that the needs of children impacted by HIV/AIDS go far beyond those who have HIV disease themselves. While at the end of 1997 the United Nations reported 1.1 million children under age 15 living with HIV/AIDS, the number of children who had lost their mother or both parents to HIV disease was 8.2 million. All of these children in our nation and around the world need support.
• Begin talking with your friends and family about the issue of children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS.
• Learn about organizations in your community serving HIV-impacted children and families to identify ways you can become actively involved.
• Support those working with HIV-impacted families through donations of time and resources.
• Talk regularly with children and young people in your family, neighborhood, and community about HIV/AIDS. Explain the suffering this disease brings and encourage them to avoid risk altogether for HIV by not participating in risk-taking behaviors.
• Talk to others in your community (civic, religious, youth, educational, or professional groups) who might be interested in a project to help children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Fundraising and awareness can be done year-round.
• Host a coffee or tea at your home, civic organization, church, temple or synagogue where you discuss issues faced by children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. Ask attendees to bring a toy to be donated to the Holiday Gift Program.
• Organize a walk-a-thon, bike-a-thon, bat-a-thon, or other event to raise funds for CAF.
• Make a donation to CAF to provide practical assistance to HIV-impacted children. A contribution of $60 will enable one child orphaned by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa to remain in school for one year. (Once children lose their parents they often must drop out of school because they have no means of purchasing the required school uniform and books.)
• Ask your employer about making a corporate contribution to CAF.
• Alert families you know who are eligible for our services about CAF.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact CAF by phone at 703/433-1560, or simply click here to send us a message.

Thank you for your concern about children impacted by HIV/AIDS.