PALM SPRINGS – AIDS Assistance Program (AAP), an essential community-service organization that provides much-needed food to men, women and their dependent children living with HIV/AIDS in the greater Palm Springs area, has joined forces with Walgreens Pharmacy to provide Christmas stockings filled with toiletries and personal care items to clients who currently receive assistance from AAP.

The distribution took place today at 9 am at the AAP office in Palm Springs. In addition to the stockings, each client received a roasting chicken courtesy of AAP.

“This has become a beloved tradition here at AAP and our clients truly look forward to receiving the stockings each year,” says Mark Anton, Executive Director of AIDS Assistance Program. “Walgreens has been quite generous in helping us with our stocking effort, and we are touched by their kindness and rewarded by the smiles on our clients’ faces. Sadly, for many of them this is one of only gifts they will receive this holiday season.”

In addition to their usual food vouchers, more than 500 AAP clients received a Christmas stocking stuffed with myriad items like toothbrushes, dental floss, moisturizer and other personal care essentials. All donations were courtesy of Walgreens, which operates in 29 locations from Calimesa to Coachella and the low desert. Walgreens is also supporting the annual AAP Kids Holiday party later this month.

“The HIV/AIDS community has already felt the crunch with program cuts and Walgreens understands that people struggle every day to make ends meet. We wanted to be sure that on at least one day out of the year, they receive a gift with no strings or restrictions attached,” said Josie Diaz, patient advocate for Walgreens. “We are happy to provide programs such as the Christmas stocking event, and to also lend our support via advocacy, education, and prevention programs.”

Since its founding in 1991, AIDS Assistance Program of Palm Springs remains dedicated to providing comfort and support to improve the quality of the lives of those surviving HIV/AIDS. Initiated by a small group of concerned citizens, led by the late Gloria Greene, Joanna Jakway, and Jeannette Rockefeller, AAP provided meals to members of the community with low incomes and suffering with HIV/AIDS. Since then, the AIDS Assistance Program's client roster has grown from about 20 to more than 500 people and their dependents. For more information, please call (760) 325-8481 or visit HERE.