Activists, lookalikes and even a celebrity were on hand for the May 7 opening of the newest Out of the Closet thrift store, benefiting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the group's HIV/AIDS patients statewide.
It's the 22nd Out of the Closet and South Florida's fourth, located on Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The facility is also the first location that AHF built from the ground up, revitalizing the site of a former abandoned gas station.
Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney and his wife Jan were on hand to dedicate the store in memory of Elizabeth Taylor. The actress spent much of her life advocating for people with HIV/AIDS, and the store will also serve as a testing center.
“Ninety-six cents of every dollar raised through our Sunrise store will benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation's prevention, treatment and education programs in Broward County and statewide,” said Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief, Southern Region for AIDS Healthcare Foundation in a media release.
Community members can help raise funds by donating merchandise, using the in-store pharmacy, shopping or simply donating to AHF. The pharmacy is a fullservice facility staffed with pharmacists who specialize in HIV/AIDS medications, plus general pharmacy services.
“The state of Florida is the third highest in the nation as far as cumulative AIDS cases, and there remains an urgent and ongoing need for effective and sustained HIV prevention and education measures,” said James Vellequette Associate Director, Public Health Division for the Southern Bureau for AIDS Healthcare Foundation in a media release.
