Garden City High School Peer AIDS Program Collects Toys For Needy Children

The Peer AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Educators of Garden City High School are sponsoring a toy drive, bake sale and other programs to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and prevention.

The activities mark World AIDS Day, recognized on Dec. 1 globally, and World AIDS Week, Dec. 3-7.

Toy donations will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 7 and are for children and teenagers affected by the HIV/AIDS disease. Please help by donating a new, unwrapped toy/gift card for children of all ages, especially teenagers. Collection boxes are located by the high school Attendance Office at the Merrilon Avenue entrance.

Each year, more than 5 million people are infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – 14,000 people a day. Of these, 50 percent are between the ages of 15-24.

Garden City High School’s Peer AIDS Education is a leadership program made up of students and guided by social worker, Lori Kuster. The program has two main goals: to educate the school and community about HIV/AIDS and to provide students with the knowledge they need to avoid putting themselves at risk for infection.

In addition to the toy drive and bake sale, Peer AIDS educators are displaying posters with statistics and facts about HIV/AIDS, wearing red ribbons and visiting health classes to educate students about prevention.

Story by Garden City school district social worker Lori Kuster