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Lexington/Fayette County Kentucky has the second
highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the state, second
only to Louisville/Jefferson County. The Care
Coordinator program at The University of Kentucky
Bluegrass Care Clinic currently lists 465 active clients
receiving case management. As in most jurisdictions,
HIV disproportionately affects the communities of
color in Lexington. While African Americans comprise
only 13% of the total population, they make up 36% of
known AIDS cases.
The
needs of an exploding Hispanic presence are
currently being assessed but it is estimated that MFL will see a substantial increase in
Hispanic clients in the coming months and years. 92%
of current MFL clients are over the age of 30 and 42%
are between 40-49. Recent testing data suggests that
the median age of persons living with HIV disease (PLWH)
locally will be increasingly younger.
Since
opening on October 3, 1998 Moveable Feast Lexington
(MFL)
has delivered hot nutritious meals daily to people
living with HIV disease in Lexington/Fayette County
Kentucky. All services of MFL are completely free of
charge. MFL has delivered:
-
95,000
Dinners
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Over
50,000 Bags of Groceries
-
25,000
Lunches (since 2/7/00)
MFL
clients receive individual nutritional attention.
Menus are modified to address specific needs related
to pharmaceutical side effects including diarrhea,
diabetes, heart problems, renal problems and gluten
intolerance. MFL clients benefit from the daily visit
of a caring and concerned volunteer resulting in an
overall better quality of life. MFL is a recipient of
the
Gay & Lesbian Services Organization’s
Rainbow Community Service Award.
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