AHF to Open Oak Lawn Out of the Closet Thrift Store, offer free HIV testing

AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s newest Out of the Closet Thrift Store offers unique shopping, free HIV tests, and the chance to join the global AIDS fight by simply donating clothes

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

What:	Grand Opening of Dallas Out of the Closet Thrift Store
When:	SATURDAY, April 19^th 10 am – 1 pm
Where:	3290 Cedar Springs Rd.
	Dallas, TX 75219
Who:	Speeches by:
	• Philip Kingston, Dallas City Councilmember District 14
	• Zachary Thompson, Director, Dallas County Health and Human Services
	• Rod Givens, District Director, Office of Texas State Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson
	• Bret Camp, Texas Regional Director, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
	In attendance:
	• Adam Medrano, Dallas City Councilmember District 2
	• Tony Vedda, CEO, North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce
	• Regina Waits, HIV/AIDS Regional Research Coordinator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
B-Roll:	shoppers entering to win a Vespa by taking free HIV tests; stilt walkers; speeches by city, county, and state officials; and guests enjoying free food from local food truck favorite The Bomb Fried Pies in between getting the first chance to shop the thrift store’s treasures
CONTACTS:	Bret Camp (TX), mobile[phone] [e-mail]
	Kyveli Diener (CA), +1.323.960.4846 or mobile [phone] [e-mail]

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest provider of HIV/AIDS care in the United States, is hosting a grand opening event on Saturday, April 19 from 10 am – 1 pm at 3290 Cedar Springs Rd. in Dallas to mark the opening of the city’s Out of the Closet Thrift Store. These unique thrift stores are not only home to a wealth of unique finds, but also support global AIDS care by cycling 96 cents of every dollar earned into supporting AHF clinics serving nearly 300,000 people around the world. Therefore, anyone who donates to or purchases from an Out of the Closet Thrift Store is directly helping AHF fight to end the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The grand opening ceremony will be attended by elected officials including Dallas City Councilmember for District 14 Philip Kingston and Dallas City Councilmember for District 2 Adam Medrano, along with District Director Rod Givens representing Texas State Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson’s office. Representatives for Dallas public health include AHF Texas Regional Director Bret Camp and Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson. All but Medrano are expected to speak at the event.

Also at the grand opening event, AHF will kick off the Dallas Test-to-Win Vespa Giveaway, where Texas residents can enter to win a brand new Vespa scooter by simply taking a free rapid HIV test in the store’s new testing facility. Entries will be accepted from April 19 to May 19, and a winner will be selected on May 22. Full contest rules are available on www.outofthecloset.org.

Dallas Out of the Closet Thrift Store
3290 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, TX 75219

Hours
Monday – Saturday 11 am to 7 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 6pm

Phone numbers
Out of the Closet Main Line: [phone]
HIV Testing: [phone]
Out of the Closet Donation Pick Up Line: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

“It’s very symbolic and exciting to open the first Out of the Closet Thrift Store in Texas right here in Oak Lawn because this area was the epicenter of Dallas’ HIV infections in the 1980s. Our new store will contribute to ending the HIV epidemic by building community, increasing access to HIV testing, linking people who are positive into healthcare, and reducing the stigma associated with HIV. And since ninety-six cents of every dollar raised goes toward supporting our HIV/AIDS clinics and service in Texas and around the world that provide specialized care regardless of ability to pay, Out of the Closet will empower every member of the community to be part of the fight to overcome HIV/AIDS,” said Bret Camp, Texas Regional Director for AHF.

AHF’s presence in Texas began with the opening of a specialized HIV clinic in Ft. Worth in August 2012, followed quickly by the AHF Dallas Healthcare Center, also offering expert HIV care, in December 2012. The nonprofit began offering INSTI rapid HIV tests in the area in April 2013 through mobile testing units, and in June 2013 opened the AHF Dallas Wellness Center and STD clinic that offers free testing and treatment for chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Most recently, AHF hosted an awareness event, “AIDS is a Civil Rights Issue,” in Dallas in February 2014 to highlight the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on the African-American community.

The new Out of the Closet Thrift Store will also be home to Dallas’ first AHF Pharmacy, a full-service pharmacy housed inside the store where 96 cents of every dollar also goes toward global HIV/AIDS care. The pharmacy is expected open later this year. Learn more about Out of the Closet Thrift Stores at www.outofthecloset.com, and about AHF Pharmacy locations at www.AHFpharmacy.org.

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider in the USA. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to over 300,000 individuals in 32 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @AIDSHealthcare