Just over $20,000 was raised by volunteers on World AIDS day, representing another fall in the annual street appeal's results, down from $24,000 last year and $30,000 in 2014. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation, which runs the street appeal, splits the proceeds after expenses between its own work and the HIV Wellness Fund which operates as a financial source of last resort for New Zealanders who live with HIV/AIDS, most of whom are gay and bisexual men. Last year the fund received $8,000. “With less people carrying cash these days, it is becoming more difficult to main cash donation levels says the NZAF’s Communication and Marketing Director Joe Rich. He suggests a possible solution would be “to hire mobile EFTPOS machines”, something that the NZAF is considering for next year's efforts. Over 200 NZAF staff and volunteers hit the streets for World AIDS day, a number on par with previous years. Collectors were placed in central locations of the main population centres where they could expect high levels of foot traffic. Rich says volunteer collectors comprised a diverse mix of people, with LGBTIQA people and communities affected by HIV out campaigning and collecting. Also volunteering their time were the MAC cosmetics crew, who have been longtime supporters of NZAF and have historically assisted with World AIDS day appeals. He says feedback from the collectors was resoundingly positive, with volunteers noting the public were both engaged and generous. In addition to soliciting donations the NZAF also asked members of the public to sign their petition urging government funding agency PHARMAC to stop delaying access to HIV medicines for those newly diagnosed with the virus. "Many members of the public had already seen or heard media coverage surrounding the petition,” according to Rich, and “mentioned their support” of the NZAF’s efforts. 2,076 people out of a needed 5,000 have so far signed the petition, which can be found here.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th December 2016 - 12:08pm