ACCT Access Care of Coastal Texas, Inc.

Education, testing, care and support services for HIV-affected residents in Galveston, Brazoria & Matagorda Counties

NovemberNovemberNovemberNovember 2017201720172017

HIV TESTING AT ACCT

ACCT offers free confidential HIV testing Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. – noon at 707 23rd Street in Galveston. WALK-INS WELCOME!

BINGO WITH MISTY

The last bingo fundraiser starring Misty will be Saturday, November 11th from noon to 5 p.m. It costs $15 for 4 cards and full Thanksgiving lunch, compliments of Mel’s Blue Plate Diner. What a deal and great prizes

UPCOMING EVENTS

•••• Gulf Coast Center will be at ACCT on

Thursday, November 25nd explaining all

of their services our clients can receive.

•••• Bill Milligan, Michael Costello and their

elves will be working their magic turning

ACCT into a Winter Wonderland on

Tuesday, December, 5th.

•••• Lee’s Art Lesson this month will be on

Thursday, November 12th at 11 a.m.

•••• The Houston Volunteer Lawyers will be

here on Thursday, November 16th at 9

a.m. Please call to make an appointment.

•••• Our Thanksgiving lunch will be on

Thursday, November 16th. Call for

transportation early.

ANGEL TREE

Moody Methodist is including ACCT once again in

their Angel Tree. Children eligible for the

program must live in the home 51% of the time

and be a biological, or stepchild of a current

spouse, or legally adopted, or a child that the

client has legal guardianship. We must have

your child’s information no later than November

9th.

TRANS SUPPORT GROUP

The Transgender community on Galveston

Island is as diverse as they come, but there are

interesting cross identities that are shared.

Experiences vary, and we’d love to get together

to share with one another. The Trans meet every

1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Stop by ACCT,

707 23rd St. at 6:30 if you are a part of a trans

community and are looking for some support.

We look forward to seeing you there.

POSITIVE WOMEN’S GROUP

The ladies of ACCT have formed a new support

group for women. A positive and uplifting safe

place to inspire, encourage and educate. Please

come join us every 4th Thursday at 12:30, right

after lunch. Join the fun!

NEW AIDS QUILTNEW AIDS QUILTNEW AIDS QUILTNEW AIDS QUILT

ACCT volunteer Brian Mayes has been named

Chairman of the 2017 Names Project Quilt

Committee. The goal is to have a panel

representing ACCT clients ready for submission

by World AIDS Day, December 1st. Volunteers

needed! It is coming along beautifully.

OUTREACH TESTINGOUTREACH TESTINGOUTREACH TESTINGOUTREACH TESTING

Outreach Coordinator, Mark H. performs free

HIV testing in November as follows:

•••• Wednesday, November 8th at 23rd St.

Station from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

•••• Thursday, November 9th at Rumors Beach

Bar from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

•••• Tuesday, November 14th at LaFitte’s from

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

for the Affordable Care Act 2018

Do you receive assistance through ACCT to

pay for your Health Insurance? Here are a few

tips to complete the process smoothly and keep

your insurance for 2018.

There are some changes this year we all need to

be mindful of. The open enrollment period is

from November 1st through December 15th

ONLY. There will be no extensions and if you

have not completed the application process by

December 15th you will not have insurance

beginning January 1st 2018. It has also come to

our attention that the website will be down on

Sunday’s for maintenance during this open

enrollment period.

Your choice of carriers and plans may be

different as well. Make sure your PCP, HIV Dr.

and hospital are in the network for the plan you

choose. Also, all of the medications you take

should be on the formulary associated with the

plan you choose. Only choose a “Silver” plan if

ACCT will be helping with your premiums.

The sooner you enroll, the quicker you get the

first bill so that ACCT can pay the premium. If

you wait till the last day, it is likely that you will

not be insured in the month of January. Enroll as

early as possible.

Who qualifies? Basically, anyone employed,

retired, or on disability (not yet qualifying for

Medicare) and making at least 12,100/ yr. (and

not insured by their employer) is eligible for the

ACA.

Enroll Texas will be available to our clients again

this year should you need assistance in choosing

the best insurance for you.

Enroll Texas 844-378-4293.

Any other questions? Give Sally a call here at

ACCT 409-763-2437

AVENUE 360

360 dental trips will again be on the 1st and 3rd

Friday each month. 360 requires you to make

your own appointment so call the clinic at 713-

524-7933. Tell them that you will be using

ACCT for transportation. Any questions, call

Darron at ACCT for help. Dental hygiene is a

basic building block to good health!

LUNCH ON THURSDAYS

Clients have voiced concern that the reason they

do not participate in the noon lunch on Thursday

is so they won’t be taking resources away from

someone “that needs it more”.

While that is such a sweet and caring sentiment,

it is not a necessary one. While some resources

will always be in limited supply, food and a seat

at our table is not one. Please come and enjoy a

nice hot lunch and share your joy with others.

Mark W.Mark W.Mark W.Mark W.

SUPPORT GROUP

The HIV Support Group for individuals meets

every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 12:30.

Open to everyone in the community affected or

effected by HIV.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU,

THANK YOU!

•••• The Newsletter team Eve, Maurisa, George, Nathan and stamper Joe!

•••• Tideway for the chicken pasta soup!

•••• Wynona for lots of sweets including candy apples for our Halloween party!

•••• Red Shoe Michelle Mueller and Unchurched Deaunna Mitchell for the terrific chili, rice and cornbread with Wynona’s chocolate cake with marshmellows!

•••• San Luis for the best ever Halloween Party with scary tacos and EVERYTHING

••••

•••• to go on them and chocolate mousse (grave dirt)!

•••• Jesse Garza, Mark W. and Jose Baez had birthdays and made ACCT their Charity of choice!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

David Bowers

Galveston Island Humane Society

Brian Mayes

Cheryl Mogridge

St. Luke M. Baptist Church Pastor’s Aid

Ministry

Edmund Terracino

U.U.s

For your donations of:

Clothes, Accessories, Appliances. Cat & Dog

Food, Office Supplies & Personal Hygiene

Texas A. M. GSA

Board Game Night

UTMB Student Nurse’s

Semester Project at ADA Alcohol and Drug Facilty

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!

The next meeting for our World AIDS Day event will be Wednesday, November

1, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at ACCT. Bring your ideas and help us plan this yearly

event!!

2016 “Names” quilt panel

A meeting to work on the quilt panel will be on Wednesday, October 11th at 4

p.m. at ACCT.

World AIDS Day is Friday, December 1, 2017.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!!