In 1986, Alan Ross, then executive director of the Dallas Tavern
Guild and a tireless worker for gay rights and
those with AIDS, began the PLWA Holiday Gift Project with the
goal of providing gifts during the holiday season
to PLWAs in area hospitals. Since then we have come to serve
many area agencies, including AIDS Services of
Dallas, the Food Pantry, the Resource Center, Legacy Cottage,
the Parkland Hospital AIDS wing, AIDS Arms
and AIDS Interfaith of Dallas. Since Alan’s death in 1995,
members of the Dallas Tavern Guild have continued
this project in his memory and in his name.
The PLWA holiday baskets consist of colorful gift bags or boxes
filled with apples, pears, trail mix, hard candy,
juice, cookies, a teddy bear and an appropriate seasonal
greeting card explaining the gift and listing of the kind
contributors who make it possible.
The cost is approximately $35 for each gift basket, which
includes expenses associated with the project. We hope
to be able to distribute over 1,000 of these baskets this year,
which are put together through the volunteer efforts
of members of the Dallas Tavern Guild and our sponsors. We are
hoping that our good friends in related
businesses will help us with this project by donating or deeply
discounting the items we will need for this project.
Fruit, candy, cookies, chips, toys, etc will all be needed to
make these gift bags something that the recipients will
truly appreciate and will brighten their holidays. As one of the
businesses we are inviting to be a part of this
year’s project, we sincerely hope you can help us with our goal
to acquire donated or discounted goods to make
up our 1,000 gift bags. Our project is all volunteer and we
appreciate any assistance you may be able to offer.
The folks we serve with this work are those who are often
forgotten and the gift bag they receive from us may be
all they get during the holidays.
We will gladly furnish our W-9, letter of non-profit status or
whatever else you need for your records to validate
any donations. Simply request the items and we will get them to
you personally or electronically.
All of the individuals and businesses participating in this
worthy project will be published in a Thank-You letter
in the Dallas Voice. We sincerely hope you will consider being a
part of it and help to make someone less
fortunate have a brighter holiday, knowing that you care. I
thank you in advance for your willingness to help
others in this holiday season. The gifts from us are many times
the only gifts that the recipients get during the
holiday season.
Paul A. Lewis
Project Coordinator
Michael Doughman
Executive Director
Please send your donation, made payable to:
DALLAS TAVERN GUILD
P. O. BOX 192478 • DALLAS, TEXAS 75219
