Texas AIDS Camp Is Short On Donations

A lifelong resident of urban San Antonio, Becky Lachel, who is HIV-positive along with her nine-year-old daughter, and her four children are looking forward to spending four days this June at Jenifer's Camp -- an outdoor experience at the Deer Creek Camp in Medina. But the organizers with the Alamo Area Resource Center said they are worried they may have to limit the number of campers this year because of a severe shortfall in donations.

Since 1998, the nonprofit organization has held the special camp in honor of a young San Antonio girl named Jenifer B., who died from an AIDS-related illness in 1996. But hard economic times and an emphasis on helping families affected by last year's terrorist attacks have slowed donations. The shuttering of the Levi-Strauss factory in San Antonio -- a major sponsor in years past -- has also hit the program hard.

The camp started with 25 participants. By last year, it had 75. Organizers this year have 136 potential participants -- most from San Antonio and South Texas, some from Louisiana and Alabama. This past holiday season, the group sent donation requests to 300 civic and corporate groups and received one cash donation of $350 and a commitment from the San Antonio Chef's Association for an in-kind donation of food and catering services. A pilot's group called Angel Flight -- whose members provide free transportation for terminally ill children -- will fly in the out-of-state children.

Jenifer's Camp welcomes any kid affected by HIV/AIDS -- children whose parents are infected, children who themselves have the virus -- as well as their caregivers. "These camps do the family thing because it builds family rapport and understanding of HIV, each other and the stresses that the disease creates in a family," said Jerry Permenter, AARC's executive director. Permenter said the group may need to limit future participants to children with the virus and one parent. For information on Jenifer's Camp, call 210-222-2437.

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