What You Can Do to Help on World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is December 1. AIDS is a devastating and life-threatening disease, but with proper treatments, people's lives can be prolonged. How can you help in this on-going battle against HIV/AIDS?

Contribute

By purchasing products where proceeds go towards helping those living with AIDS, you can make a difference. Product Red is one such organization that puts people on life saving medication. Through education and encouraging others to spread the word to others, many people's lives have been saved.

Red is a program that raises money for African countries (Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Swaziland) to fight the spread of AIDS and HIV. According to their website, www.joinred.com, Red funds "provide antiretroviral treatment for children and adults, help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, provide essential counseling and testing activities to reduce the overall risk of HIV transmission, and launch clear and accurate communications campaigns to promote prevention."

The Red company works in partnership with large companies to raise money. Created in 2002 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Red has impacted over 2,500,000 people through contributions and Red Product purchases.

Educate Yourself

The World Vision website has a great test to take covering your knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Find out how much you know about AIDS at the World Vision Website: www.worldvision.org.

Start a Group with Free Resources

The Willow Creek Association is offering free downloadable resources for group discussion and how your group can take action. You can find these materials at: http://www.willowcreek.com/grouplife/aids_day.asp.

Participate in an Event

There are concerts, festivals, and events going on all over the world. This is a global awareness day and by doing something today, you will know that there are people all over the world doing the same thing as you. So where do you find events? www.worldaidscampaign.org has an events calendar from all over the world. To find something in your town, check the events calendar in your local newspaper.

Where a Red Ribbon

The Red Ribbon has been synonymous with AIDS for almost 25 years. Wear one regularly to raise awareness and keep others thinking about what they can do to help.

Organize an event

Fundraisers are a great way to raise money for HIV/AIDS. Every little bit helps and even if it's just for a month's supply of medication, then at least you helped someone. There are many ways you can help raise money: host a Run/Walk, have a bake sale, host an auction.

Give a creative gift this Christmas

Instead of buying a store bought gift, purchase a gift from an HIV/AIDS partnered company and donate money to AIDS programs. Let the recipient know that their gift helped someone with HIV/AIDS. You can also save the money and donate the entire amount in the recipient's honor. Send your gift recipient a card that reads: "I donated this much money in your honor to support HIV/AIDS research and medical help for those in need."

There are many things you can do to help out and the more creative you get, the more fun it can be to participate and get others motivated to help out.