The Buddy Program

It was the best volunteer work I remember ever doing in my life.

I moved to Los Angeles in 1989 (the year I turned 30). Before that I had lived in San Francisco; a city that had a gay newspaper with an active obituary column. While I was not and still am not POZ, I have nonetheless had and lost friends to the virus. I wanted to do something.

One of the largest non-profits in town that provided help for the HIV+ community was the AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES (APLA). Where I fit? For a while I volunteered as a notary public. Their clients certainly had need for notarizing or witnessing of testamentary documents. I did this for wills, powers of attorney, disposition of remains, hospital visitation authorization (yeah, another time for an explanation of what that's all about), and other legal instruments.

One-on-one work with an actual client was what I really wanted to do. It was through them that I had discovered the buddy program.

"One of our most critical early programs was the APLA Buddy program. Dozens, hundreds and then thousands of trained APLA volunteers helped clients with AIDS with daily tasks, social activities or even just provided basic human contact. Our volunteers took meals into the hospital rooms of AIDS patients-since the hospital staff was too frightened and left trays outside the door." ( taken from 40 Years of APLA )

I had a few clients over the years. Some were good fits. Some were needy beyond what I was legally allowed to do. The last one was with me for about 8 years and we were extremely close to the point where I spoke to him daily. I was the one who found his body. I was the one who called his friends. I was the one who paged his doctor. His doctor made a house call. Yup, to see a cadaver! There's one for the books.

The program has gone. People are living longer and are autonomous. The Internet has connected people with more options than just BBSes or AOL which were the rages back in the day.

I no longer have contact with the organization. My parting of the ways with the HIV+ giant was over personality differences. I still believe they provide good services; I simply won't be contributing to them.