Riverfund Inc

RIVERFUND, INC. PROVIDES PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH OR AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS AND OTHER LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES, TO THEIR LOVED ONES AND CAREGIVERS INCLUDING VISITS WITH THE ELDER POOR. WE SERVE THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN ARE ALONE AND IN NEED - REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S RELIGION, RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR GENDER. IN THE ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, THE RIVERFUND IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND PREVENTION.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA - UGANDA IN 2001 WE BEGAN SERVING AIDS ORPHANS IN UGANDA. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF SUPPORTING LARGE ORPHANS' PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS, WE FOUND MORE IMPACT COULD BE MADE BY EDUCATING WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE NOW MANY SMALL GROUPS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS IN MOST REGIONS OF UGANDA INCLUDING THE FORMER WAR ZONE IN THE NORTH. WE ARE TEACHING HIV/AIDS LONG TERM SURVIVAL SKILLS IN SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR HIV+ PERSONS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH MICRO FINANCING, CRAFT MAKING AND COOPERATIVE FARMING PROJECTS SUCH AS GOATS AND CHICKENS AND COMMUNITY VEGETABLE GARDENS. IN UGANDA WE SEND OVER 600 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL EACH YEAR (INCLUDING VOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY), PROVIDING SCHOOL FEES, UNIFORMS,SUPPLIES AND LUNCH WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

FLORIDA THE RIVER FUND RUNS A TWICE MONTHLY MOBILE FOOD PANTRY REACHING 300 FAMILIES AND SERVING 800 MEALS PER MONTH. AT THESE EVENTS, NEW OR GENTLY USED CLOTHING, SHOES, BLANKETS AND HOUSE HOLD ITEMS ARE DISTRIBUTED. WE ALSO OFFER HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION. OUR WEEKLY PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIAN RIVER SCHOOLS BACK PACK BUDDIES PROVIDES FOOD FOR AT RISK (FOOD INSECURE) STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE WEEKENDS AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE NOT IN SCHOOL. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH BY THE RIVER SENIOR LOW INCOME HOUSING PROVIDING SOME LUNCHES AND STAPLE FOODS TO FOOD INSECURE SENIORS. THIS YEAR WE BAGAN HELPING TO FEED THE HOMELESS IN OUR HOME TOWN.