Reflections From a Former PHC Member Turned PHC Coordinator

In September, the Pittsburgh Health Corps (PHC) served at the Greater Community Food Bank, a PHC host site, in honor of Hunger Awareness month. This project would be the group’s first taste of service and I could feel the anticipation growing as the members filtered into the Food Bank’s volunteer lounge on that morning. After a short description of the work we would be doing and an introduction to safety guidelines, we began packing meat that would later be distributed to families in need. 

Making these packages reminded me of working in the food pantry at the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (PATF) during my own Health Corps service year. Before serving at PATF, I thought of food insecurity and hunger only in its relation to issues of poverty, obesity, and child development. But, during my time at PATF, I began to discover the role that food insecurity played in overall health, especially disease management. In striking up a casual conversation with a client, Joe, as he waited for entry into PATF’s food pantry, Joe mentioned that he had not taken his HIV medication or seen a doctor in years. This came as no surprise to me. I understood the HIV treatment cascade in America—namely, that of those living with HIV in America, only 82% will be diagnosed with HIV and only 37% will be retained in care. Joe’s circumstance was not unusual. As an eager HIV prevention specialist and AmeriCorps member, I jumped at the opportunity to educate Joe on the benefits of retaining care, in hopes that he would alter his ways. Before I could finish my spiel on how lower viral loads reduce HIV transmission rates, Joe stopped me.  He said, “Honey, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m gonna stop you. How do you expect me to find the strength to see a doctor when I’ve barely eaten in two days? How do you expect me to take medication on an empty stomach? I’ll be sicker than the day is long, chile.” With that, collected himself and entered the pantry. The conversation with Joe will always stay with me because Joe changed my perspective that day. Joe helped me understand food security as an issue of disease management just as much as primary care. 

As the new PHC members served at the Food Bank, I thought of Joe. I thought of all of PATF’s clients. I thought of the 14% of all Allegheny County residents that live in food insecure households. I was happy that we were getting things done for these people--things that were meaningful and would truly influence their health. And, from the smiles on all of the members' faces, I knew that they were happy to get things done too. The year ahead of them would give them even more passion for service and a greater understanding of the impact of their actions, as it had done for me.