1053 Juniper St. NE • Atlanta • 404-874-8686
Atlanta Interfaith Aids Network (AIAN) ministers to HIV patients with AIDS. Begun by a Presbyterian
minister in the mid-1980s, the ministry is physically located downtown at 1053 Juniper Street NE. The building
is called Common Ground. AIAN employs paid executive and program directors, but most personnel are volunteers.
The current and past executive directors are ordained ministers.
Support is provided to AIDS patients in several forms. An accepting and sympathetic staff plus a
cadre of volunteers provide friendship, pastoral counseling (trained psychologists and pastoral counselors),
resource advice for medicine, food, and most human needs, diverting arts, crafts, and other occupational
therapy as well as lunch each day. Lunch is provided by participating churches or at Open Hand on Armour Drive .
Open Hand feeds 500 seriously sick people a day, including those with AIDS and incurable cancer. The limit at
AIAN is 50 people a day with average utilization being 40 a day. This is a daytime ministry. It does not
house overnight guests.
Financial support for AIAN comes from government and foundation grants, private donors, but most
importantly, many churches including 25-28 Presbyterian churches. The annual budget is $270,000. DPC currently
contributes $2,000 a year.
People who are HIV positive, and especially those with active AIDS, are typically regarded as social
outcasts. The assumption is that such patients are contagious in face-to-face meetings, such as those people
with leprosy once were. Being in the same room with a person carrying the HIV virus or touching him/her, say,
with a handshake does not allow the virus in. It is not spread through the air or intact skin. HIV patients,
no matter how they contracted the disease need compassion and support. AIAN meets these needs and does a great
deal more. This is a very worthwhile way and place to practice Christian service. The most desired service is
friendly, accepting, caring conversation, and it costs nothing.
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