It was the coldest winter we had ever been through. Positively Dickensian. Alone, stuck in a crappy job, renting a room in the lesbian hell house, and mobile only by the grace of a creaky, dilapidated moped, it hit. Pneumonia sucks even when all other conditions are conducive to healing. But in this particularly pathetic state, the first wave of what was to be three bouts of the icky lung disease knocked us shell-shocked. Health insurance? Yeah, right. The moped wheezed along with us. God bless People’s Community Clinic. We just don’t understand a culture that places profit above its people’s well being. We just don’t understand a system designed to keep people sick and squeeze out nickels from bodies like blood from rocks. It makes us cry. God bless People’s Community Clinic. We can’t imagine what folks without health insurance would do without People’s Community Clinic.
People’s provides primary health care and services to folks no matter what their ability to pay. They have never denied service for lack of an insurance card. Last year, over 15,000 people utilized their services, paying what they could on a sliding scale.
For all the good they’ve done for Austin since 1970, this weekend, People’s Community Clinic will be the beneficiary. Come join the clinic as they host Heaven & Health, a celebration and fundraiser, Sun, Sep 13, 4-8pm at La Zona Rosa. Tish Hinojosa Trio will be joined by Captain Connie and the Eugenio Hernandez Trio. There will be plenty of fun and stuff (food, face painting, cash bar, etc.) for all ages. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at People’s Clinic, 2909 N. I-35 or at the door the day of the event. 708-3131.
We’re Not Gonna Take It!
Those brainy Lonestar Mensa-types are offering a free seminar entitled, Refuse to Be a Victim, featuring guest speaker Dr. Alice Tripp. The wise-guy organization has monthly meetings, but this month, they received a grant to cover the cost of Ms. Tripp’s visit, so the event is free and open to the public, Tue, Sep 15, 7-10pm at Hancock Recreation Center, 811 E. 41st.
“Refuse to Be a Victim” addresses personal security issues in the home and out and about, offering strategies for keeping safe. The program is primarily geared toward women, but men are welcome and should find the talk equally useful. The Hancock parking lot gets full, so get there early. 310-9090.
Drop Some Pounds
Start stocking up your donatables, your gently useds, and totally reusables. There’s got to be stuff you no longer find of value that someone else can use. It’s the ultimate in recycling. See, in this case, the more you donate, the better your chances of winning big.
For every donation of goods to any of Goodwill‘s 25 donations drop-off points or to any of the organizations special daily live remote locations during their Weigh Good donation drive, Fri-Sun, Sep 18-27, you’ll receive a raffle ticket. The prizes include a two-year membership for two, with one-year personal training at Body Business, a night for two at any Courtside Marriott in the U.S. and a $100 flight coupon for Southwest Airlines, a 75 Pentium Computer, a trip on the Hill Country Flyer, tix to Esther’s Follies and the Austin Ice Bats, and more, more, more. Goodwill hopes to weigh in at over 300,000 pounds of donated goods during the special event. Come on out, pump it up, and help them out. 637-7160.
You Are Where You Eat
Mmmmmmmmmmm. Eating out is fun, yes? Many of you schedule your entire week’s agenda around where you are going to get your nourishment, admit it. Austin’s restaurant scene is a fine one to get lost in, we know. So it’s doubly nice when you can go to your favorite eatery, stuff yourself silly, and help out a great cause even before popping the dinner mint and dropping a generous tip.
We’ve already received the first wave of publicity about AIDS Services of Austin‘s annual Dining for Life event, this year slated for Mon, Oct 5. ASA along with 15 other HIV/AIDS service organizations will benefit from your pigging out. Over 80 restaurants are listed as participants. Each restaurant indicates from which meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) proceeds will be donated. Some offer more than one meal. Everything you put in your mouth on October 5 can benefit ASA. Damn. It’s still early; we won’t be surprised if the list of participants grows between now and then. 458-2437.
Can’t wait that long to chow down for a good cause? Hungry to help? Well, this Mon, Sep 14, is the next date for ASA‘s Red Ribbon Dinner series. This one is at Louie’s 106. We’re talking serious cuisine � five courses each coupled with its own wine. Reservations are highly recommended. 406-6175.
This article appears in September 11 • 1998 and September 11 • 1998 (Cover).