(20th Anniversary Pictorial Ride)
Post #32:
Our final day in Chicago was dedicated to children, and this amazing place called The Children's Place. (Special Note ~ June and August were relatively busy months; however July 1995 involved much more bicycling, and many fewer photos. For that reason, I will greet you with story updates every other day, this month.) (Each picture has more details.)
~~~
Picture #066
Having
worked at Benedict House in Buffalo, and visiting two other AIDS refuge
homes (Bailey House and David's House), we knew what to expect for
adults. But imagine an AIDS refuge home for children and babies. It
was like nothing we expected. Everything at The Children's Place
Association, (no longer in operation), from educational to bathroom
facilities were designed to meet the needs of little
people. Dan Dever, Executive Director, shows us how a toddler's sink
and toilet are installed. And unlike Chicago Women's AIDS Project; we
were given a very thorough tour, and actually had a chance to meet a
number of the children, providing we did not take pics of them or print
full names. While I got re-charged by hanging out with the Elementary
age kids on a bus, returning from a day tour to Taste of Chicago, Carl Lebman
had a chance to hold and love little Ronisha, clinging for life. And
being a twin, his heart was heavy, meeting the newborn twins, awaiting
their HIV status. We did our best to share their story at the time, but
media was not on our side. (Picture from June 30,1995)
— with Dan Dever, Exec. Director
— with Dan Dever, Exec. Director
Dan said I earned a Staff Tank Top, because the kids on the bus loved talking with me, and getting to hear about bicycling across the country. (Picture from June 30, 1995)
— with Dan Dever, Exec. Director
— with Dan Dever, Exec. Director
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