SAN began as an informal network of friends, medical caregivers, and concerned citizens in 1985. Dr. Jeff Collins, Dr. Dan Coulston, and Tom Crowe of the Spokane County Health District met to discuss creating an AIDS support group which would include Community Mental Health, Department of Social and Health Services, members of the gay community, and other volunteers to coordinate services for people with AIDS.
One of the early way to connect individuals was to deliver food to those with HIV or AIDS that were homebound due to the disease. A group of volunteers created a network of people that would cook meals, deliver them and sit with clients to talk, share stories and just be there. SAN’s Food Pantry was created to make sure those with food insecurities were taken care of, providing access to protein enriched foods, access to pickup food in person and also the delivery of those who were homebound. This same concept has lasted all these years and is one of our core offerings.
Our community has a need for SAN’s services and leadership; our presence helps to bring community together and remind people of what HIV is and how it continues to impact people today. Anti-HIV and anti-LGBTQ stigma continues keep people from testing for HIV or accessing services; by providing inclusive and welcoming services and spaces, we will work to combat that stigma and address the socioeconomic factors that continue to exacerbate the HIV epidemic today.
