Of course, I was not the only one traveling around the city bringing food & whatever else we could to people living with AIDS.  Far from it!   Almost overnight it seems, a small army of volunteers mobilized from every walk of life – young, old, gay, straight – determined to fill the vacuum of meager services, few treatments and, at first at least, government indifference.

Those few of us on staff were always amazed and humbled by the sight of so many volunteers who showed up each day, many giving up their lunchtimes to take food to people who had neither lunch nor the means to make it. 

Facing many obstacles of poor directions (sorry, guys), traffic-clogged streets, and labyrinthine apartment buildings (with mazes that would have daunted the most determined Minotaur), these hardy souls persevered.   Like the Post Office motto: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.  Nor even earthquakes, as it happened.

When the Northridge earthquake struck at 4:30am on Monday, January 17th 1994, our drivers were out that same afternoon delivering bottled water to clients in the hardest-hit areas, along with their hot lunch, of course

So you know who you are, guys.  Remember those times – the stories, the faces, the challenges, the triumphs?  If you do, send us your memories, the people and incidents that remain with you to this day.  No matter if you were a volunteer, a friend, relative or recipient of services, tell us what it was like. 

Salute yourselves and help us to keep a historical record of that turbulent era, a communal experience of determination and valor that should not be forgotten. 

Send us your stories, of any length.  We will edit them lightly for purposes of space and clarity but will stay faithful to your narrative and tone.