News Release
For Immediate Release: December 14, 2009
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
“What if it were you?”
Pictured above in front row from right to left are Commissioners Ernie Gregg, Denny Glotfelty and Fred Holliday. In back row are Linda L. Lewis, GCHD Outreach Worker; Pandora's Box members Lisa Laure, Aaron Callis, Kelsey Skipper (in front), Cody Laure, Kelsey Perando; Donna McClintock, GCHD Social Worker and Garrett AIDS Council Chair; and Cindy Mankamyer, GCHD RN.
At a recent Commissioners Meeting Pandora's Box Teen Health Theater Troop performed a skit called, "What if it were you?" The skit was written to instill empathy within communities by putting yourself in the place of someone that has AIDS. The skit raised awareness about access to care and community stigma of those with AIDS. World AIDS Day is observed each year on December 1 st to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS as a global challenge. The 2009 theme "Universal Access and Human Rights" reminds people that HIV has not gone away, and there is much to be done to connect persons to treatment and to promote prevention.
Pandora's Box is funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Garrett County Arts Council and sponsored by the Garrett County Health Department.