Thrift aims to help kids of HIV-positive parents

Afsha Bawany

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 3:06 a.m.

It may look like the shop around the corner, but the newly opened Just For Kids, 2401 Bonanza Road, is looking for more than just a slew of customers. It's looking for a new sign, some volunteers to mind the store and a commitment from the community to help children with parents affected by HIV or AIDS.

The thrift shop opened July 1 with a pre-bought inventory to get business started. It resells donated clothing for infants to teens, baby toys, furniture and baby accessories to low-income families at low prices. The profits made are placed into special funds for children whose parents are unable to care for their children.

Dr. Reva Anderson, founder of the Sista to Sista organization, which opened the store, said there are not enough resources to help women with HIV or AIDS and their children. That's why she is committed to this venture to provide assistance to children whose parents may be absent, receiving treatment for drug addiction or physically incapable to care for their children.

"No child should be left behind," Anderson said in an interview at her office located next to the shop.

Anderson explained her passion to help others stems from the help she received growing up as a child.

"When I was a kid, people helped me in addition to my parents. In my case, I've lived and been where most of those kids are," she said.

The profits received will be used to support children through orphan education funds, psychological support, drug and alcohol prevention programs or social activities.

Unlike other retail stores, Just for Kids has a partnership with social service agencies to issue clothing vouchers for those eligible. Shopping at this store makes sense, Anderson said. It is conveniently located, sells quality clothing (baby T-shirts are $2 and baby dress socks are $1.50) and the profits are going to a good cause.

"What would be ideal is to have major retailers to donate their clothes as new items to the shop," Anderson said. "It would make them a great community partner."

Since its start in 1998, Sista to Sista has educated black and Latino women and other women of color about the risks of HIV and AIDS. The organization trains women to become peer educators and tries to create an open dialogue about the disease, which still carries a social stigma, Anderson said.

"HIV in our communities means people are hurting and they are hurting in isolation," she said.

That's why Sista to Sista exists: to create a support system and a place women can turn to, Anderson said.

"I didn't know where to turn," said Shelia Hawkins, who has been involved with Sista to Sista since January of last year. Now a peer educator and office manager for Sista to Sista and Just for Kids, Hawkins said being a part of Sista to Sista opened doors for her and has changed her life.

"They invited me into their lives, all of a sudden everything opened up for me," Hawkins said.

Although it will take at least a year before there will be enough money to get the program going, Dr. Anderson sees a positive future ahead for the shop and sees the shop starting its own affordable line of clothes to be sold in all retail shops. The profits would go toward the same cause, she said.

Anderson would also like to organize a kid's walkathon in the fall as a fund-raising project to unite the city in fighting HIV and AIDS and to raise money for children. The ideas are always brewing, she just needs people who have time to help out. She doesn't know how she'll do it, but she knows it will happen.

After all she does have fans rooting for her.

"The things she does for people in general touches the heart," Hawkins said. "She's my mentor."

"I think someone needs to care about what's happening," Anderson said. "My responsibility is creating opportunities for people to care."