Miami Herald, - Tuesday, July 18, 1989
Kitty Oliver, Herald Columist

The deadly disease is spreading from the homosexual to the heterosexual community. So is information about its causes, symptoms and prevention. Most people's lives have been touched by it in some way -- by the diagnosis or death of a relative, friend, co-worker, acquaintance or famous person.

Founded five years ago, Center One now provides emotional, spiritual and some financial care for 730 people with AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses.

Some of them will be moving into Broward House, which opened Monday.

The Fort Lauderdale residence was purchased with $1.5 million appropriated by the Legislature as a result of lobbying by local agencies, including Center One. It will become a haven for 52 men and women with AIDS who have found themselves deserted and homeless.

Other agencies are starting to get involved in AIDS care or testing. But word from the hub is that the integral 300-member volunteer network needs expanding.

Attend a Saturday volunteer orientation session, which now includes as many heterosexuals as homosexuals. Listen to founder Father Fred Tondalo, and only the hard-hearted and most perversely prejudiced among you would not be recruited.

"Maybe you're not supposed to stop the suffering," he'll tell you. "Maybe they're supposed to go through it and sometimes all you can do is just be there to hold their hand and cry with them."

Some volunteers do just that, spending a few hours a week visiting AIDS patients in hospitals to say hello and listen.

Some answer the office information and referral hot line and make daily phone calls to patients. The cheerful voice and concerned ear of a stranger can provide clients with a few minutes of respite from distress and misery. It's often the bright spot of the day.

For those who prefer a one-on-one approach to volunteerism, there's the Buddy Team. You are matched with an adult with AIDS who is starved for companionship. He or she may feel well enough for excursions or may just want quiet time to talk and share. There's a support group for people with AIDS (they're called "PWAs") and for buddies. There's also a Baby Buddy program, for people who communicate better with the little ones who have the HIV virus.

If you fear transmission of the virus by this type of contact, it's not possible. Father Fred and the staff will put your mind at ease quickly.

But maybe you'd like to help in some other way.

If fund raising is your niche, Center One could certainly use you. The proposed budget this year is $660,000. More than $400,000 of that must be raised privately.

A steady flow of income -- from $5,000 to $7,000 a month -- is raised at "Love Campaigns" at local bars, where tables are set up by volunteers to solicit donations.

So far, only gay bars have participated. The center wants to spread the campaign to the larger bar community in some way. Any ideas would be welcome.

A centrally located site in the county is being sought for a day-care center for kids with the HIV virus, so they can get the preschool socialization and stimulation they need.

And there's always room on the bandwagon of advocacy for increased availability of experimental drugs to curb disease and research to eradicate it.

More information awaits at the AIDS network hub, 485-7090.
890718
MH890701

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