"Get knitting!"
That's the word from Deanna Clatworthy, clinic coordinator at HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH).
ARCH is preparing to launch it's third-annual Red Scarf Project, an awareness and compassion campaign meant to reduce HIV stigma in the community and offer support from those dealing with HIV.
"It's not really to raise funds, it's more about raising awareness in the community that there are a lot of people that still need our support," Clatworthy said.
"A lot of the issues surrounding HIV these days is not the illness itself, but the stigma that goes along with it."
The project asks people to wear red scarves as a show of support during the month of December. The scarves will be distributed during AIDS Awareness Week from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1.
Before then ARCH is looking for people to help make the scarves, either knitting, sewing or crocheting them. Materials will be provided if needed.
Clatworthy said HIV treatment has come a long way and people are living much longer with the illness, but the stigma remains.
"HIV is not gone. It's just that we have lot better medicines now that help people live longer with it," Clatworthy said.
It is estimated there are currently 39,000 people living with HIV in Ontario.
ARCH has a client base of 450 people and Clatworthy said the past two years she has received a lot of positive feedback from many of those clients about how much they appreciated the community support the Red Scarf Project showed when they noticed them in public.
"Instead of people feeling like they have something they have to disclose to people, we have something that discloses to them 'hey, it's okay, I don't judge you, I support you.'"
Anyone making red scarves (there is no set pattern) for the project can drop them off at ARCH located at 113-89 Dawson Road during business hours or at the Len's Mill Store on Victoria Road, where a collection bin is located.
To help with public awareness, ARCH is also asking people to use a photo of themselves wearing a red scarf as their profile picture on social media during December and also share them using the hashtag #theredscarfproject.
