Aids Resource Alliance Inc

I know also that were it not for you and your staff at AIDS Resource, I and, I suspect, several others like me would have lost everything we have. So I thank you today for all that you have done over the past eight years – for the emotional support, the financial assistance, and the friendship you have so willingly shared.

As our medical bills began to climb at the same time that the cost of medical insurance exploded, you helped us maintain our coverage until we could regain our foothold rather than allowing us to lose the care that keeps us on the right side of the line between life and death. When we found ourselves adjusting the thermostat ever lower to stretch our increasingly expensive supply of heating oil, you provided us with assistance to keep the chill out of our home. And when it seemed that we might lose this home, this one safe place in a world that grows increasingly hostile, you found a way to help us keep from losing even that. Sometimes it seems that there is nothing you have not provided to ease us through the hard times from which it seems we have been unable to emerge.

I am quick to recommend AR and it is a relief to have a doctor who cares. At most practices I have felt like I was one of their 1000 or so patients and the doctor didn’t know much about me apart from my chart. At AR Health the team makes an effort to get to know you and it is a very welcoming and caring environment.”

My case manager is very helpful, very encouraging, and very resourceful. She always makes sure I have what I need It's been a great experience having her.

I have an amazing case manager. She does so much to help us and is so quick to follow up anything you tell me. She is very caring and I couldn't ask for a better person. Thank you so much for all you do!

The whole staff makes me feel great, and they do an awesome Job

Staff makes me feel so welcome and at home and safe to be myself.

My experience at Aids Resource AR Health has been excellent. I reached out to AR Health because I was having issues with my previous doctor about getting basic STI tests done. My previous doctor struggled to understand this and when I went for testing he had ordered the wrong tests. I therefore decided to reach out to AR Health and met Dr. Haussmann. I was very impressed with him and was happy that he understood the struggles I went through with my previous provider. He has been very knowledgeable about the type of care I need and has always been quick to respond to my questions. I also have been impressed with the nurses and support staff at AR Health. They have helped me a lot with my insurance provider when my claims have been denied despite it clearly states in my policy that they should have been covered. Overall, I am quick to recommend AR Health and it is a relief to have a doctor who cares. At most practices I have felt like I was one of their 1000 or so patients and the doctor didn’t know much about me apart from my chart. At AR Health the team makes an effort to get to know you and it is a very welcoming and caring environment.”

My Case Manager is the most compassionate and caring person I've ever met. She calls and checks up on me, I can talk to her about anything that's on my mind and she understands and brings me comfort every time. She also reminds me of my doctor's appointments and even calls to see how they went. I can go on and on about her worth. I'm happy she's in my life and I want her to be my family for life.

Healthcare in America is complex and rooted in executives lining their pockets. AR Health is the first organization, that I’m aware of, that has flipped the narrative. They generally want to treat the patient. Their approach is patient centered. I know this firsthand, and I feel very lucky that I have a primary care physician who genuinely cares about me. Scheduling an appointment is very easy. I am not rush during my scheduled time. I am also not notated as “Your 3 o’clock just showed up.” They know my name and they treat me with respect. I feel very comfortable talking with the provider. My overall quality of care is absolutely amazing.

I teach at Lock Haven University in Clinton County. AIDS Resource has provided free and confidential HIV and STI testing on campus for many years. Students are very happy to have this convenient and free service. Plus, AIDS Resource often has information tables on tables, distributes safer sex information and condoms for students and provided classroom presentations. I highly recommend them. Their staff are sensitive and inclusive. Rural communities can be a challenge to serve and AIDS Resource staff always step up to the plate. They are a great group of people. I appreciate their stability and ability to connect services to the community. Thanks, AR staff and volunteers!!!

Not enough good words can be said about AR & their staff who are out-of-this-world. The level of impact they have on individual lives, and the high number of them, speaks volumes to the high-level of superior and quality service they offer. Simply put: they change lives.

This is the best place to go for help. They genuinely want to help. Lots of places are hard to ask for help - it's embarrassing and they kind of make you feel bad. Not ARC - they make it easy to ask for help - usually they offer before you even need to ask. Very comfortable there. So happy to have them - don't know what I would do without them.

They help fight stigma and do a lot to help clients - housing, food, medical care. They are my biggest support system.

This agency offers a vast array of services to people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. They also offer free STI and HIV testing. The staff is compassionate, welcoming, and helpful. They are LGBTQ+ friendly, and they have offices in Williamsport and State College, PA. If you are living with HIV or AIDS, I would highly recommend them for support, financial assistance, guidance, and advocacy.

This agency is tops! The caseworkers show exemplary care and concern for their clients. The resources provided are not only necessary but lifesaving.

I have been a volunteer with/for AIDS Resource for about 20 years primarily in the area of fundraising. I have discovered their staff are dedicated to the fields of HIV and AIDS prevention and direct case services. They are always kind, supportive, affirming and inclusive in their planning efforts with the LGBTQ communities in the region. I am especially impressed with the willingness of staff to go above and beyond in serving the needs of the community. While some non-profits struggle with maintaining long-term employees, AIDS Resource seems to be able to keep their leadership employees long-term. This has created history, stability and longevity in the area of HIV and AIDS services. I like their newsletter and how they keep volunteers and board members up-to-date.

I first came in to contact with Aids Resource in August of 2016 through my work with educating College students. Within 5 minutes of meeting the staff (many of whom continue to work with the agency) I knew that I had stumbled across something incredible.

After meeting the staff and Executive Director, I immediately became interested in getting more involved with AR. I joined the Board of Directors, and began assisting with agency long-term planning and fundraising. I've since held a few roles on the Board for AR.

The staff are exceptional in every way. They care deeply for clients. They work tirelessly as advocates and caretakers. They value and maintain a high degree of confidentiality at all times. They continue to add and expand services to meet the challenging nature of the current landscape. You simply could not ask for a better community health resource or a better group of people.

They genuinely care and do everything they can to help. Top notch people.

Did so much to help us during the pandemic. I don't know what we would have done without them.

AIDS Resource constantly goes above and beyond. In an ever changing society, they have found creative ways to meet their clients needs, even during a global pandemic. Their staff is caring and thoughtful and can always be counted on to help anyone in need.

Services the agency offers are second to none. They genuinely care about what they are doing and it shows in their work. The entire team. In an industry which unfortunately is still stigmatized, their efforts are noteworthy.

They are open and here for us when no one else is right now, and I can’t tell you how much that means to people like me.. You know that quote about “looking for the helpers of the world” in dark times? They are the helpers.

As our medical bills climbed along with the cost of insurance, AIDS Resource helped us maintain coverage until we could regain our financial foothold. They helped with our winter energy costs so that we could stay warm. And when it seemed that we might lose our home, the only safe haven in what we discovered could be a pretty hostile place, they helped us keep from losing even that. It seems there is nothing they have not been willing to do to help keep us afloat.

But the help they offered went far beyond financial assistance. Their staff have helped with our emotional and spiritual needs as well. When things sometimes grew to be too much, they listened. When it seemed as though each passing month and year brought more bad news, more challenges that at the time seemed insurmountable, they shared their belief that there is a reason for all of this and there are some things and people worth holding onto. At times, they let us hold onto them, and when we needed it most, they held onto us.

Everyone is dealing with COVID in their own way. I love my family, but the consistent support that I have always enjoyed has faded, and rightly so because they are dealing with this mess too. Many friends have also faded away, and again rightly so because they are just trying to survive as well.

There really has been only one constant: AR. Without meaning to, I think I was taking them for granted and wasn't truly grasping and appreciating who they are and what they do.

What they are doing -during a time when so many people are thrown off and maybe even becoming dysfunctional -is saving lives. They are saving my life. It's that simple and crystal clear to me.

Aids Resource Alliance Inc.(Williamsport, Pa made the transition of my diagnosis into everyday life bearable in most efficient way possible. This organization is more of a family than anything, they cover every basis possible with one very important responsibility YOU ! Their clients come first whether it be emotional, mental or physical well being. They are more than just a structural support for their clients, they’re a way of life. Amy , Theresa, Kirsten and everyone involved in this agency made a huge heartfelt impact on my life. Amazing is all I can say.


Sincerely
Edward Wise

AIDS Resource started serving a small area of PA in the early 1980’s, and has grown to cover 6 counties in north central PA. As a member of the community I have seen AIDS Resource grow to help hundereds of people. It’s an agency that truly cares about the people it serves and the community as a whole. It’s an amazing resource to have in our area.