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COMMITTEE
Carol Hart, Chairman
Norman Carmel
Stephanie Bashein Emerson
Terrell Hart
Jim Jablonski
Richard Trifari
John Acevedo
CAN Representative
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AIDS Quilts: The Source of Comfort
A few years ago, the Sarasota Herald Tribune published an
article, which described the Bethesda House AIDS quilts endeavor as the
Source of Comfort. The article described the AIDS quilts project that
started in 1994 with two men who were living with HIV/AIDS across the
street from Bethesda House. These men were not associated with Bethesda
House, but they were affiliated with AIDS Manasota.
The first quilt
was made in memory of a homeless man, Jim Hiner, who died with AIDS. His
friends, Tom Dodd, Richard Huntington and Bill Preibe, created the quilt
because they wanted Jim to be remembered in the Sarasota community.
Sister Dale Ettig and Phil Slinkard joined the project. Bethesda House
donated a sewing machine to help them.
At the
beginning creating the quilts was a very slow process because families
did not want it known that a member of their family died with AIDS. The
Gay Community was very supportive and dedicated in helping everyone who
was affected. They helped raise funds that were needed to keep the
quilts in storage and bought the storage containers with money raised by
raffles. Sister Frances Nevolo of Bethesda House was then asked to
direct the project and to provide a storage facility. Project Hope was
the name given to this endeavor at Bethesda House.
New people
assisted in the project, working on the quilts each week. Children who
lost their parents were brought in by grandparents to help. The project
provided for intergenerational healing. This opened a new horizon;
Bethesda House became a place for support for family members and friends
of those who died with AIDS. Today there are over one hundred quilts
that have been lovingly made by friends and families who have lost loved
ones.
The Bethesda
House AIDS quilts are loaned to community institutions for display on
special occasions. The following organizations, schools and houses of
worship have displayed the AIDS quilts: AIDS Manasota, Florida Catholic
AIDS Conference, Ashton Elementary School, Booker Elementary School,
Cardinal Mooney High School, Catholic Charities, Church of the Trinity,
Manatee Community College, Community AIDS Network, Players of Sarasota,
Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota
PrideFest, St. Martha’s, Sun Coast Cathedral MCC, Temple Emanuel,
Temple Sinai, Theatre Works, local churches, and others. The quilts are
also displayed on Sarasota Gay Pride Day.
Two new quilts
were dedicated during the Seder of Hope on April 6, 2003. Each year the
new AIDS quilts are dedicated at The Seder of Hope.
Today the
quilts of Project Hope have truly become the Source of Comfort and
brought the Sarasota Community together.
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