The AIDS Program serves as an effective leader in advocating sound and compassionate public policies and community responses to the AIDS epidemic. A culturally diverse staff and volunteer corps delivers services throughout San Mateo County from sites in Daly City, East Palo Alto, and San Mateo as well as a mobile van. This approach depends on community participation and support. Regional, statewide, and national collaborations have further strengthened our leadership efforts in responding to the epidemic. Currently, over 150 people offer their skills, life experiences and cultural diversity to support the mission of this agency.
People volunteer for many reasons.
Some volunteers are AIDS Program clients, people with HIV who find that work in the AIDS epidemic gives them a sense of power and purpose, a way to fight back against the disease. By becoming part of a supportive and understanding community, they lose their feeling of helplessness. San Mateo County AIDS Program will recognize ten years of outstanding service to the community during 1995. Volunteers have been the true unsung heroes in this epidemic. They have saved many lives as educators and have improved the quality of many lives with emotional support and a warm smile.