Celebrating Ten Years of Red

harm reduction [hahrm ri-duhk-shuhn]
- noun

1.    a range of public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with recreational drug use and other high risk activities.
2.    the mission of the Red Project in Grand Rapids.

The Red Project just celebrated their tenth year dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV and hepatitis C and encouraging the overall health of our community. The nonprofit receives tremendous results to the credit of their groundbreaking syringe exchange and condom distribution programs. Since the existence of the controversial organization, people living with AIDS or HIV contracted from injection drug use is down sixteen points to 9 percent. Not to mention in the last year, they served more clients than any other year prior with fifty-two people confirmed in leaving behind their harmful lifestyle with an overdose reversal. Believe it or not, they have created the largest scale overdose prevention program in the state.

Their success has opened up doors to funding as well with recent grants from the Steelcase Foundation, Mars Hill Bible Church and the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation. It has also led to a partnership with the Kent County Health Department, creating a renowned HIV testing program that allows staff to test and educate high-risk groups that are unlikely to visit the Health Department.

"We are committed to meeting people where they are at based on their health goals'" explains Tami VandenBerg, chairperson for the non-profit organization. Such is the case with condom distribution in half a dozen local bars with the plan to double or triple that number by year's end. They are also discussing lobbying government to allow the distribution into the jail systems as well.

Grand Rapids is fortunate to have such a remarkable charity as many cities larger than our own have not ventured down this path, proving once again that our city is on the nonprofit forefront.

To be a do-gooder:

•    Follow the Red Project on Facebook
•    Find more information about programs and services on their website
•    Contribute to the Red Project through Network for Good

Source: Tami VandenBerg, Red Project; Chris Koens, Red Project
Writer: Jennifer Wilson, Do Good Editor