Ventura College’s Psychology and Anthropology clubs attended the 19th Annual Santa Barbara County Heart and Sole AIDS Walk on Oct. 3. The 10-kilometer walk benefited the Pacific Pride Foundation’s AIDS services program, the community’s leading service provider for those affected with HIV/AIDS.
The Pacific Pride Foundation (PPF) has been assisting those in need since the AIDS pandemic swept through Santa Barbara County in 1984. It is the largest service provider for those living between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and additionally helps others around the country through HIV prevention outreach programs.
Tara Darling, a 28-year-old psychology major, led the Psychology Club in a bake sale on Sept. 30 to help raise funds for the event.
“California has seen almost $85 million in budget cuts aimed at AIDS programs across the state,” said Darling, the club’s current president. “The hardest hit in the cuts have been HIV education and prevention programs, testing and counseling services, home services and early intervention services.”
According the Darling, the Psychology Club raised over $200 at their bake sale, but contributed a total of $500 to the event.
“The funding we made went to assist the Pacific Pride Foundation which will use those funds to help those in our community living with HIV and AIDS,” she said.
The Anthropology Club also hosted a bake sale on Oct. 1. Dana Barrios, a 25-year-old anthropology major, said the bake sale benefited the PPF not only with the money they were raising, but also the awareness they were spreading to customers.
“The AIDS Walk is a first for the club,” said Barrios, who serves are the club’s vice president. “As a club, we’re always looking for nice things to do for the community.”
This genuine interest in helping others is also the main reason behind the Psychology Club’s decision to participate in the AIDS Walk.
“We’re a very active club,” said Darling. “We take part in a number of events throughout the semester and we like to do things that positively affect the community.”
Darling felt that the event went well.
“We had 55 members in our team, the largest team there, we were told,” said Darling. “I feel that the walk was a success and we have an amazing team that made it a success.”
