In an average month, the Colorado AIDS Project's Food Bank and Nutrition Program provides assistance to more than 500 HIV-positive people. A patients' income determines their eligibility for the free program, which was launched in 1987. The food bank provides about one-third of the weekly nutritional needs of its clients.

Diana Cable, food bank coordinator, said the operation has an annual budget of $220,000. It provides 9,450 meals per month, or 113,400 each year. The cost of the average meal is $1.18. Though it receives some donated items, 95 percent of the food is purchased, often at discounted rates. Cable is the project's only salaried staffer; 50 volunteers, including 15 who work each week, serve clients and provide informal support.

"It makes a huge difference," said one female client. "It means I don't have to choose so much between paying for medicines, the heating bill, the rent and so on. I have a couple of days of meals to fall back on."

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