MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE

Local help and hope for people with HIV

By Beth Fisher

CREATED Jan. 3, 2013

  • Print

  • St. Therese Center helping those living with HIVs. Video by ktnv.com

    video

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Thousands of Southern Nevadans are living with HIV or AIDS.  Many of them are too sick to work, have strained family relations, and need hope.  They are finding it at the St. Therese Center, which is making Las Vegas a better place to live.

Volunteers at the St. Therese Center are loading up food for the pantry.  Food that goes to more than 4,000 HIV positive clients in Southern Nevada -- clients like Norman, a father of 5 and grandfather of 7 children. Norman also volunteers here. "We're the only agency that has a food pantry for the HIV community."
 
The center is named after Saint Therese, who died at  the young age of 24.  And though Father Joseph says she is always present -- and God always provides -- he knows God often uses people to do it. "January is the worst month" says Father Joseph O'Brien. "People are so generous in December but generosity, love, and helping people really needs to be all year."
 
St. Therese offers a variety of services but perhaps the most important thing it offers is hope.
 
David is a full time volunteer and a client.  His addiction to drugs and alcohol cost him everything. After trying to commit suicide and surviving, he was then dealt the biggest blow of his life. " A guy came in and asked for me by name. He was with the health department. Piece of paper. You have AIDS. Sign this. I signed it and he left."
 
Now, he and Father Joseph are licensed by Stanford University as the ONLY two HIV instructors in our state. Teaching clients how to live with the disease.
 
David says, "Some people think they aren't worthy. But St. Therese doesn't judge anybody. Loves everyone. It's a powerful and amazing experience to see and be a part of."
 
For more information on the center, click here.